The JV baseball team at Shabiot Hills, California -Paris Sard Charterer High School, dressed in all the temporary houses in a temporary house, which is a match between the refugees, has been dressed up. The stadium and the outfield grass were mad and uneven. Because there was no mound, the main application was softball.
But it was what they had to work together. And the tragic situation that destroyed their schools and cities -the fire that led them to this place was hardly important at that moment. What was important? Bar City Captain Ryan Hill Shiverg was dissatisfied with the Junior Bar City Group's joint practice and focus.
“The only reason JV that I had to run today is that you didn't pay attention,” Hirschberg told the team after practice.
“It's not because we want to run you. If we ruin, we will run too.”
HIRSCHBERG worked because he practiced only players until the coach was allowed to participate in early February. For them, I OLD for them, and then I saw them all passing through the outfield and running essential sprints in the adjacent fields.
At that moment, this practice felt very serious. I felt the result of the failure was legitimate. And there is a true punishment for not locking for their presence in the Cheviot Hills Recreation Center, a park that the team has allowed to prepare for the season.
But in many ways, baseball was not important. What should I do for Ian Sullivan? A left -handed pitcher whose house burned out, a fire that took all of his specific memories of his childhood. What should I do for JETT TEEGARDIN? One day later, after visiting the burning neighborhood, the infielder returned to a temporary home.
But at this moment, baseball was most important. I wanted It is important. Palisades has defeated all 38 baseball players in the list of JV and Bar City. They have gathered to support each other through trauma -like experiences. I don't know where to play this year or what kind of uniforms and equipment to play, but they decide to dispatch the team and get the season. Baseball is a short escape from the tragedy for them. But it's also a chance to do something for a community that requires something desperately to get together.
“Such a character -like situation, and they show who you are,” said HirSchberg, who donated and practiced organized.
“People can't see your best at the best time. It's the worst when you have to show you who you are.”
On Tuesday, January 7, a notorious fire overtook the Parisards in Los Angeles and other areas. It killed dozens of people, destroyed thousands of houses, and charged all the lives and secular property of all subsequent people.
Used as a set of movies such as “FREAKY FRIDAY”, high schools, such as “Modern Family”, were severely damaged. And many of the baseball stadies remain, but the surrounding area was greatly influenced. The facility is not accessible. The uniforms and equipment in it may not be available.
The area around the Paris Sard Charter High School was severely damaged. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times Getty Images)
Mike Volkel does not know where to play home games this season. Hope is a mix of Royora Mount University, UCLA, and other local universities, which is not a problem. His team plays all games on the road.
“I told the children, I said,” We are playing. I don't care, “Volkel recalls. “Get a T -shirt as needed. For recovery, for health. To promote the development of young children. It is important to return to it.
“Some people tend to stick to it, and they tend to play the victims. These are people who stay there, sometimes the rest of their lives. I want to return the children to the field. I was going to do as much as I could. “
Volkel, living south of Parisade, remembers that he woke up from a nap in the afternoon when the fire began. He already received an email that instructed the staff not to come to Ito's job that morning.
His television was adjusted according to the spectro news, where he saw Gavin Newsum, Governor of California, on his screen Parisard. At that time, he recognized how concerned about the situation.
He began to contact the player and his family, but many were evacuated. Voelkel, a 18 -year coach, had a lot of emotional and physical labor in its team and facilities. He spent that day without knowing if it was all over.
As colloquial, Paris Hi's class has shifted to completely online since then. But the physical separation did not stop his team from jumping into action immediately and helping each other. Noma, Voelkel's wife working in real estate, has begun to work to confirm that everyone has a place to stay.
The player provided supplies to his teammates. One player went to another house that was out of the town in case the fire finally reached them. The major renowned companies and people began to reach out to provide supplies. Dave Roberts, a Los Angeles Dodgers manager, said he and some players are planning to participate in practice in the near future. The team donated baseball. Cincinnati Reds pitcher and LA Native Hunter Green donated cleats. The Paris Hyebasketball Team received tickets for Warriors, Los Angeles Rakes Gorden, from Steve Car in the alum.
Support is welcome. Since this baseball team works to rebuild immediately, they do not erase the trauma that their seasons and their lives will be upside down. When they take the field again, their New Jersey has a “Paris Strong” patch sewn by them.
Voelkel asked what this season's meaning was, but cut off the question before completing it.
He was convinced that he said “victory”, so he was convinced.
“To take all of these. Connect it. To take care of our family. There are many. I want to win the game, but I'm very competitive. But in this situation, the whole thing There are much more things.
JetT Teegardin's back uniform was delivered to him a few days ago by HirSchberg. It is one of the only clothes he has.
He believed that there was a house where he and his mother returned immediately to leave for up to two days. That night, they looked at the ring door bell camera and saw the remaining fire flying in the neighborhood.
The next day, he returned to the house that no longer existed. The contents of fire -resistant safety have also been destroyed. The neighbor who has come to love is now evacuating because their community is gone.
“It's very difficult. You can imagine yourself with your home, your room, everything that has disappeared,” said Tigardin. “I was a sperm donor baby, so I didn't really have a father. I am mainly for my mother. Through all the situations, I always for her. I tried to be there.
“I talk to her to make sure she is okay and make me okay. If she knows she's okay, I get 10 times better.”
Considering what Ian Sullivan lost, his heart goes to his game ball. What he earned when he was 8 years old. Annuality, trophy, pins from traveling to Coopers Town, New York -All relics of his childhood.
On the day he was ordered to evacuate, Sullivan thought the wind would fire in the opposite direction. His parents worked, so he packed his family, packed their cats and dogs, and thought it was a short departure.
Instead, one week after the fire, Sullivan and 12 of his fifth graders met at the Karabasus friend's house. Almost all of their homes were destroyed. Meetup was a chance to be together.
“It's a dark time, but the light always shines through the dark,” he said. “Parisade is back. I feel like I'm not just playing for my teammates, but I'm playing in my town and at home.”
After the fire, Sullivan and Tegaldin sent a group text message to all the teams. Given their situation, they knew that their teammates might be cautious around them. They wanted texts to break down the wall.
“If this fire doesn't illuminate your ass, I don't know what I am to motivate you to win this year,” they wrote.
The answer began to flood. “Yeah” was sent. Those who have never contributed before have jointly signed their encouragement and messages.
“I think everyone is more motivated,” said Tigardin. “It was everyone's sparks to do their best … we need to win now, we have to do this for us and coaches.
“This fire, it has brought us far closer.”
It was a picture -like Wednesday afternoon, and I was interested in what was happening and approached the practice, so the sun just began to sink on the practice.
According to the player, this was a regular event. People were interested in the details of what they were dealing with.
The man approached the gate that separates the gate and the sidewalk with his dog. He asked Sullivan, who rehabilitated his injured arm, what team they were with. The conversation continued -the story of fire, the lost house, and the next season. The chit chat was very relaxed and friendly, and its subject was hardly reflected.
“Fortunately,” he told Sullivan. “It's very scary.”
His father, Joe Stanley, was driving to practice three players. He sat down from the top row of the seats and was wearing a cap from the team.
“I think it's healing and proud. These children are like a family,” Stanley said. “They spend a lot of time together and a close group. This is wonderful. They need this.”
Everything has a normal sense. However, even in its small state, these children sharply know their reality. Junior's Jude de Pastino said that everyone on his team had experienced trauma, even if they didn't feel it yet. He said that practice brought some normal.
In the first four days after the fire, he was “shocked.” He traveled to Parisade with a friend group who lost his house. Senior Captain Logan Bailey, who did the same thing, said that the telephone pole was burned out and the live wires were being zapped on the street. He said it almost surreal and looked like a movie.
“It's beyond what you can imagine, the photo is not justice,” said De Pastino. “I know our life is literally flat.”
After about three hours of practice, the group again put together just before the sun sinked. The parents' cars began to fill the parking lot and waited for their sons to pick them up. This grace was special. It is necessary and lasts almost every day until the season begins in late February.
But for now, the grace is over. And the actual life was more scary and uncertain than before, and was waiting for them again.
“This is one of the stories you talk about the floor of your death,” said Bailey. “You can get old enough to get it, and it will not leave your heart yet, you will stick to everyone here for the rest of your life.”
(Illustration: Demetrius Robinson, AthleticPhoto: Josheederson / AF, Samburum via Getty Image)
