Little League of Their Own

Loma Linda Little League is no stranger to struggles. Since its founding in 1996, the league has had to jump over hurdles and through hoops to keep the program going. Nobody knows this more than Dr. Marino De Leon, professor at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine, who was at the forefront of a political battle in 1995 to get the baseball program going. "The city had no plans or room for a Little League," said De Leon, who served as founding president of the League for several years. He has supported the league as an adviser ever since. Loma Linda Little League had this season's Opening Ceremony at Pico Park in Grand Terrace last Sunday, April 13th. "We are now sharing field time with another league in Loma Linda, something that we are not used to." said Bez Rengifo, president of the Loma Linda Little League, explaining that the games will now be split between the field at Pico Park and their home field in Loma Linda. "We are redesigning the league, so it is a little bit smaller than usual," said Ricky Payne, Vice President of the league, who explained that Sunday games will be played at Pico Park in Grand Terrace. "We are excited to be adding the Challenger division soon," Payne shared. The division, which only has a few members who are playing in the T-Ball division for now, will be open to kids with special needs up to the age of 22, if they are still finishing up high school. Explaining that the league has never been afraid of doing things differently, Rengifo talked about Mark Bolter and the Jr. Umpire Program. "The Umpire in Chief has worked side by side with young umpires. It has taken some getting used to, to have a young kid be the authority in the field, but it works out," Rengifo shared. Young Jazmin and Albert, new Little League players are adjusting as well. They used to play in the Colton Little League until their family moved to Loma Linda. Now their cousin Natasha is joining the league in the Challenger Division. "It is a good opportunity for families to do something and stay busy together," explained Jazmin and Albert's father, who is Natasha's Uncle. Bez Rengifo took the time to thank the several sponsors of the Little League, including 3 Ring Creative, which absorbed part of the cost for the Little League uniforms and created a new logo for the league at no charge. Tom Perkins was also recognized for donating field time to the league so they may play in their home field during the week, along with co-sponsors La Loma Credit Union and Dr. De Leon and the Loma Linda University, Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine. With all these changes and opportunities 18 years after their initial victory, Loma Linda Little League is outlived by the words of the Little League pledge, no matter what curve balls are thrown: "Strive to win, but win or lose, I will always try my best."