Baler alumni to honor PJ The San Benito baseball team will be
holding an alumni game at Veterans Park on Saturday in memory of
former Baler Paul Jacob Galvan, who passed away in a car
accident.
Baler alumni to honor PJ The San Benito baseball team will be holding an alumni game at Veterans Park on Saturday in memory of former Baler Paul Jacob Galvan, who passed away in a car accident.
During this season, Haybaler players added a circle patch to their uniforms with the letter PJ on them. Shirts commemorating him will be available for purchase. Proceeds raised during the game go toward a scholarship in his name and will also go toward helping the baseball program. All the money from the raffle will go toward the scholarship.
Before the game, a priest from Sacred Heart will give the dedication and prayer. PJ’s brother, Bobby, will be throwing out the first pitch.
About 25 alumni are expected to attend the 7 p.m. game, and many fans and parents are also expected to come out. The cost is $5 per adults and $3 for students and kids.
“They’re going to give us a solid game,” said Baler coach Derek Barnes. “I just hope it is something that people can come out and enjoy for a good cause. I hope it is something the community can embrace for years to come.”
The alumni players will play against the current varsity team. The alumni has several players who have went on to play ball collegiately like Nick Bakich and Eric Davis Jr. Dave Ortiz (class of ’72) is the oldest of the alumni expected to play.
But one of the drawbacks that the alumni have is a lack of pitching depth, said former Baler coach and this year’s alumni coach Neal Andrade.
The Baler varsity team will be hard pressed to score anything in the first three innings off of Diaz, who was selected as an All-Conference pitcher with the Hartnell Panthers. Pitchers will be limited to just three innings. Andrade also said he is hard pressed to find catchers as well.
Both coaches plan to substitute freely so as many players possible can play in the game. They will also plan to bat everyone in the lineup.
The alumni team will be holding a workout Friday night at Gavilan College from 4-6 p.m.
