Dave Roberts adopts the high baseball team in Palisades with fire

Traditionally, when a member of the Dodgers team is honored with BobbleHead Night at Dodger Stadium, someone from his family will expel the first festive stadium.

But on Saturday, on BobbleHead night, which celebrated the final match of the World Championship last year, the Dodgers Dave Roberts manager had a different idea from the pre -guest.

Four months ago, in the weeks that followed the destroyed forest fires that destroyed Pacific Palisades, Roberts received a message from a friend involved in the baseball team at Palisades Charter High School, and invited him to speak in one of their practices before the season.

It was the beginning of a personal relationship between Roberts and the elapsed basement program in the school; The world chain’s winner has made a source of moral support in their catastrophic conditions, and more simply one of their biggest fans.

“When all this happened, I received email messages from people all over the country, and everyone who wants to help and all these things,” said the baseball coach Mike Fwaleel. “But Dave is one of the few who have adhered to us … I do not think they have invented an adjective so far to describe my appreciation and the extent of thanks [we are]”

Thus, when it is time to celebrate Bobblehead on Saturday, helped coordinate the Dodger Stadium for Palisades.

During the beating in Dodgers on Saturday afternoon, the Palisades and Junior Darsity teams were invited to the field level, where they saw the evaders in awe from behind the main plate.

“This was the most amazing thing,” said Iman Sullivan, a senior player. “I have no words.”

The first festive stadium has been delivered by the novice football player, Jet Tejaridin, whose family wore between living outside hotels and with friends in the region since he lost their house in fire.

“You just spoke with Dave Roberts!“He shouted after Roberts came to salute the team before the match – he even even knew that Roberts would be behind the plate after hours to take a pill from the hill.” How many people can say they had a full conversation with him? It is very cool. “

Even the traditional call to “It is time for the evading baseball” had a developer, followed by a group of other players who were personally affected by the tragedy.

“Only with what they were going through, I was in contact with them,” said Roberts. Then comes the BobbleHead night, and I was like, “I want to do something. I want to make this a special night for them. “

A long time ago, though, the effect of Roberts was already physical.

In the aftermath of Palisades fires in January, which spent more than 6800 structures and a lot of famous high school in the neighborhood, there was doubt whether the baseball program would even remain.

“When this happened, people were telling our children that we would not have a team, and to transfer to other schools, and things like this,” Filkel said. “But we were somewhat stubborn. We have been sure that we’ll get a team.”

Once the season started after weeks, many volunteered about the basement world to help.

Hall of Fame Joe Torre manager and entertainment Billy Crystal made a sudden visit to one of their early practices. The Texas -based baseball company, Bruce Bolt, donated a donation of hundreds of dollars to each player.

However, a few days were like Roberts’s visit in late January, when he spent nearly two hours with the team while practicing in a park near Century City.

Roberts said, “It was brutal,” Roberts said. “But they were enjoying. I was very excited.”

“It was definitely something to excite mood,” Togters said. “Because it was still somewhat modern to everything that was happening [with the fires]. So I think it was one of the most amazing things that happened [this season]”

Roberts’s message to the team on that day was simple: “Do not make excuses.”

Voelkel expressed appreciation for such sincerity, as Roberts’s words found refreshing before he knew he would be a hard season.

“It was like a sitting in the backyard, and talking about baseball,” said Feelcal about Roberts’s interaction with the players. “I think this was a different kind of communication from those forums that usually take over.”

Since then, Roberts has been in regular contact with Voelkel for team updates.

“He wanted to know how our children do,” said Felekel. “I contacted him when he was in Japan.”

Shortly before the first stadium on Saturday, the entire program gathered near the third base line – wearing their blue shirts “Palisades” – and Roberts received it with a brief address.

“It was completely golden during this entire process,” said Felekel.

The baseball game alone was a welcome distraction for players in Palisades.

“It is like a normal life in my life,” said Sullivan. “Something has not changed.”

But the complexities of this season were not easy.

Early in the year, Teegardin recalled the need to simply scramble to find equipment for practice.

He said, “I had nothing, I had no clothes.” “So my friends came and dropped me from some things.”

He stands beside him, Sullivan nodded his head.

“Yes, I too.”

The practices were a logistical nightmare, as the program found a shelter in many local parks after its field was damaged on the campus on fire-and was officially settled last week.

“Slap in the mouth”, Voelkel described that news.

Although the team’s play was ascending down this season, as it entered on Saturday 13-9 in almost an entire agenda in the CIF Los Angeles city section, Voelkel said that the simple truth that is still playing together is still a pride point.

“If you look at it realisticly, this is a victory for just a team,” said Voelkel, who was recognized last month by CIF with the coach of the model. “This replaces anything.”

However, with a few weeks passing until going to the qualifiers, the Palisades team has a single goal in mind: Return to Dodger Stadium for the City Division Finals next month.

“Now is close to it, it is like Need At this stage, Sullivan said, his eyes are wide, staring at diamonds. “This will be the best way to create our season. So this is a kind of crazy experience, and another motivation for us.”

If they get there, the few will be happier to see him from Roberts.

“I can’t tell you how much the growth and stability of our program,” Felekel said. “When you have the director of the world champion, it gives you their time and authentic care, this is invaluable.”