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Bonzai Wins League Opener Over SKS
After Emotional Beginning
After Emotional Beginning
April 28, 2009 Mishawaka, IN
Bonzai Softball took the field on Tuesday night at the
same park where their shortstop and friend Berto
Naranjo lost his life. They vowed to play this season
in his honor and on Tuesday, they got off to the right
start.
Bonzai defeated a flat and dreary Street Kids /
Suburban South softball team in game one of a
double header at Rose Park, 15-7, before the
SKS team came from behind to win the nightcap,
12-11.
"It just seemed like no one wanted to play together,"
said infielder Nick Bishop. "Like we were all serious
and not having fun."
"The game is supposed to be fun, and tonight it just
didn't seem like it," said Tony Hardiman.
Before the first game, both teams, along with members of Ro-Sham-Bo/SKS, who just finished their
games prior to the Bonzai-SKS game, came onto the field and gathered around the shortstop area where
Berto Naranjo played over the last few years.
"Before we start tonight," said league commissioner Chad Meyers, "I just want everyone to take a moment
to remember Berto, who passed away a couple of weeks ago on Rose North. Everyone please be careful
when you play and be safe. Lets keep Berto's memory alive with each of us."
After Meyers spoke for a few moments, Berto's mother - accompanied by Berto's girlfriend and
grandmother - spoke to the players gathering around.
"All of you meant so much to my son and I know he loved all of you," she said while fighting back tears.
"Thank you for loving him and remembering him."
She then took the ashes of her late 24-year-old
son, and spread them around the shortstop area.
Following this, a prayer was spoken and all the
players proceeded to begin the game.
"I had no idea they were planning that," Mark
Hershberger of SKS said. "That really got to me."
Despite the tough moment, the game had to go
on, and Bonzai used the motivation to pile it on
the Kids, never really keeping the game too close.
"I am not sure what it was, maybe the somber
mood with the pre-game stuff, but we are not
playing good ball right now," manager TJ
Jorgensen said. "Whatever it takes, whatever
we need to do, we have to find a way to play
better. Play better together."
The Kids (22-9) were down by one run in the
bottom of the seventh inning of the second game
with two outs and two strikes on Jorgensen when
the team began their comeback. Jorgensen singled
sharply to center, followed by a Dan Garey single and an infield single by Joe Richard. The bases were
loaded with Zach Yeaney at the plate. With two strikes on him and the game on the line, Yeaney singled
sharply to left, scoring both Jorgensen with the tying run and Garey with the winning run. Mike Glass of
Bonzai made a strong throw from left, but it was up the line and Garey scored to win the game. Yeaney
carried the team tonight, going a perfect 7-for-7 at the plate, including hitting his first home run of the year.
"I was just looking for something to drive and keep it between the lines," said Yeaney, who had four hits in
the game.
SKS will now prepare for the Memorial Opener on Thursday night at the Belleville Complex, where they
will spend time with children from Memorial Hospital, and their families on the field before playing against
Ro-Sham-Bo/SKS in an exhibition game.
Bonzai Softball took the field on Tuesday night at the
same park where their shortstop and friend Berto
Naranjo lost his life. They vowed to play this season
in his honor and on Tuesday, they got off to the right
start.
Bonzai defeated a flat and dreary Street Kids /
Suburban South softball team in game one of a
double header at Rose Park, 15-7, before the
SKS team came from behind to win the nightcap,
12-11.
"It just seemed like no one wanted to play together,"
said infielder Nick Bishop. "Like we were all serious
and not having fun."
"The game is supposed to be fun, and tonight it just
didn't seem like it," said Tony Hardiman.
Before the first game, both teams, along with members of Ro-Sham-Bo/SKS, who just finished their
games prior to the Bonzai-SKS game, came onto the field and gathered around the shortstop area where
Berto Naranjo played over the last few years.
"Before we start tonight," said league commissioner Chad Meyers, "I just want everyone to take a moment
to remember Berto, who passed away a couple of weeks ago on Rose North. Everyone please be careful
when you play and be safe. Lets keep Berto's memory alive with each of us."
After Meyers spoke for a few moments, Berto's mother - accompanied by Berto's girlfriend and
grandmother - spoke to the players gathering around.
"All of you meant so much to my son and I know he loved all of you," she said while fighting back tears.
"Thank you for loving him and remembering him."
She then took the ashes of her late 24-year-old
son, and spread them around the shortstop area.
Following this, a prayer was spoken and all the
players proceeded to begin the game.
"I had no idea they were planning that," Mark
Hershberger of SKS said. "That really got to me."
Despite the tough moment, the game had to go
on, and Bonzai used the motivation to pile it on
the Kids, never really keeping the game too close.
"I am not sure what it was, maybe the somber
mood with the pre-game stuff, but we are not
playing good ball right now," manager TJ
Jorgensen said. "Whatever it takes, whatever
we need to do, we have to find a way to play
better. Play better together."
The Kids (22-9) were down by one run in the
bottom of the seventh inning of the second game
with two outs and two strikes on Jorgensen when
the team began their comeback. Jorgensen singled
sharply to center, followed by a Dan Garey single and an infield single by Joe Richard. The bases were
loaded with Zach Yeaney at the plate. With two strikes on him and the game on the line, Yeaney singled
sharply to left, scoring both Jorgensen with the tying run and Garey with the winning run. Mike Glass of
Bonzai made a strong throw from left, but it was up the line and Garey scored to win the game. Yeaney
carried the team tonight, going a perfect 7-for-7 at the plate, including hitting his first home run of the year.
"I was just looking for something to drive and keep it between the lines," said Yeaney, who had four hits in
the game.
SKS will now prepare for the Memorial Opener on Thursday night at the Belleville Complex, where they
will spend time with children from Memorial Hospital, and their families on the field before playing against
Ro-Sham-Bo/SKS in an exhibition game.
| The family of Berto Naranjo speaks to players at Rose Park before spreading his ashes on the field on April 28, 2009. (Turn your speakers up to hear more clearly) To view the video, you must have Quicktime installed on your computer. It is free, and can be downloaded at www.Apple.com/quicktime. |
