‘Dolphins Day’ at Dodger Stadium

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor      

Palisades High’s baseball team hopes to be playing at Dodger Stadium at the end of the season—the reward for reaching the finals of the City Section’s top two divisions. A few weeks ago, they got a taste of what that experience might be like thanks in large part to Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts, who had made a surprise visit to a players-only practice January 29 at Cheviot Hills Recreation Center to talk to members of the team and offer words of encouragement three weeks after the Palisades Fire burned many of their homes to the ground.      

During batting practice the afternoon before the Dodgers were to host the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 26, Roberts (on his own bobblehead night, no less) invited the Dolphins’ JV and varsity teams down to the field level to watch their favorite Major Leaguers take swings. Two hours later, pitcher Jett Teegardin, one of the players who lost his home in the January 7 blaze, was on the Dodger Stadium mound delivering the ceremonial first pitch to Roberts behind the plate—a dream come true moment for any fan. Then, four other players—Ethan Davis, Lars Refnes, Tribe Edwards and Carter Branch—were handed microphones behind home plate and delivered the familiar amd iconic phrase: “It’s Time for Dodger Baseball!”

The Dodgers won the game, 8-4.

“It was a wonderful tribute to our players and I couldn’t be more grateful to Dave [Roberts] and the Dodgers for making it happen,” Pali High head coach Mike Voelkel said.

“They’ll remember that the rest of their lives.”

That morning, the Dolphins were  set to play a nonleague game against reigning City Open Division champion Bell. Although it got rained out, Voelkel was presented his Model Coach Award (which he won in March) from City Commissioner Vicky Lagos. Voelkel, in his 18th season at Palisades, was one of two coaches from the City to receive the statewide honor this year. He earned his 300th victory with the Dolphins on March 7, a 7-4 win against Western League rival Hamilton.

Palisades played tough against Sylmar but lost 5-2 last Saturday in the Tiger Classic. The Dolphins are second in league behind Venice  heading into Friday’s regular season finale. Not having a field to practice and play on has not been easy, but Voelkel is not one for excuses.

“We’re making the best of the situation,” he said. “There are only eight teams in the Open Division [playoffs] this year, which means that Division I is going to be harder.   No matter where we get placed we have to cut down on our errors.”