Balls and Strikes

PPBA’s 70th Season Opens with Pancake Breakfast Saturday at Field of Dreams

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

If longtime Commissioner Bob Benton had given out a game ball last Saturday morning for the traditional Pancake Breakfast at the Palisades Recreation Center’s Field of Dreams complex, it surely would have gone to his dedicated field crew, who worked tirelessly in the days leading up to opening ceremonies to get the rain-drenched diamonds ready for another exciting spring of action at the local Pony League.

“This marks the 70th year of the Pacific Palisades Baseballl Association and I’ve only been to half of them,” Benton said to the crowd of players, parents and coaches. “You’ve heard the term ‘it takes a village’ and many people contributed to getting rid of the water to make this possible.”

Benton introduced Sean Regan of Congressman Brad Sherman’s office, who presented Benton with an American flag that had flown over the U.S.Capitol building two days earlier. Formed in 1954, the PPBA has been going strong since (the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19).

Then Benton handed the microphone to 10-year-old Grace Pothier, who earned thunderous applause for singing the national anthem. A fifth-grader at St. Matthew’s Parish School, Pothier enjoys acting, singing and musical theatre. Her grandparents have lived in Pacific Palisades for almost 50 years and her uncles grew up playing in the PPBA.

Doing the honors was Mike Romero from Fire Station 69, who joins a distinguished list of first-pitch throwers that includes movie stars like Goldie Hawn, Tom Hanks, Keanu Reeves and Ray Liotta, comedians like Billy Crystal and Bill Hader and professional athletes like LA Dodgers first baseman Wes Parker, LA Kings left winger Luc Robitaille and San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates.

“I was approached about doing it and gladly accepted—it’s a big deal,” said Romero, who has been a firefighter for 16 years, the last 12 months in the Palisades. “I love it here. The weather is beautiful and everyone in the community is so supportive.”

Romero, who lives in San Dimas, is no stranger to the sport. He has a son who plays baseball. He threw a nasty curve that caught the corner and with that, teams took to the four diamonds to begin their seasons.

In the Pinto Division (ages 7-9), the Royals, Yankees, Pirates, Red Sox and Orioles all emerged victorious, as did the Red Sox, Yankees, Pirates, Orioles and Dodgers in the Mustang Division (ages 9-10) and the Red Sox, Tigers, Dodgers and Pirates in the Bronco Division (ages 11-12).

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