Cypress 1st annual Fall Classic leaves everyone a winner

Members of the Cypress Red Sox PONY Champions All-Stars played at the first annual 'Fall Class' at Oak Knoll Park on Saturday, October 19.  Pictured Front Row (Left to Right): Jaxon Gumas (Anaheim), Luis DiRosa (Cypress), Jordan Leos,(Cypress); Middle Row (Left to Right): Bryce Birmingham (Buena Park), Rachel Seymour (Rossmoor); Jaxon Gumas (Anaheim); Crystal Leon (Cypress); Back Row (Left to Right): Head Coach Kim Koerner (Cypress); Oscar Aguillar (Anaheim); Kevin Koener (Cypress); Haley Singer (Rossmoor/Huntington Beach); Asst. Head Coach Ben Singer (Huntington Beach); Parry Havelaar (Huntington Beach, Not Pictured). Photo by Mike Longo

It wasn’t the World Series.  That will have to wait until November.  But ask any of the 60-plus disabled children and young adults who played in it and they’ll tell you with their smiles.  The first annual ‘Fall Classic’, hosted by Cypress PONY Baseball and its Champions Division, was a grand slam.

Parents, families, guardians and friends filled the stands with enthusiasm and support as four teams played a double-header at Oak Knoll Park last Saturday, October 19.

OFF AND RUNNING!!  Jaxon Gumas of the Cypress PONY Red Sox All-Stars heads to first after grabbing a base hit off pitcher/coach Parry Havelaar of Huntington Beach.  Chavez was one of 60 special needs players from Southern California who participated in the First Annual Champions “Fall Classic”  at Oak Knoll Park in Cypress on Saturday, October 19.  The 20 year-old Cypress PONY Champions program provides free baseball for children and young adults with special needs in the fall and spring seasons.

Two “All-Star” teams from the Cypress Champions program showed up along with a team from Walnut/Placentia and a fourth team, Kelsey’s Heroes, from Indio.    The games were two-inning affairs, with coaches providing the pitching and direction.  All players received complimentary hot dogs and soda between games and were awarded an All-Star medal and commemorative t-shirt for their participation.

“My son has been in organized sports for people with special needs for years,” said Kim Koerner of Cypress and skipper of the Cypress Boston Red Sox.  “Leagues like Champions make such a difference in their lives and the lives of their families.”

ALL-STARS ALWAYS!!!  Sixty children and adults with special needs gave their fans and themselves big reasons to smile at the 1st Annual ‘Fall Classic” baseball tournament held at Oak Knoll Park in Cypress.  The event was played on Saturday, October 19 and hosted teams from Cypress, Walnut/Placentia  and Indio. It was hosted by Cypress PONY Champions Baseball, which has provided free spring and fall baseball for children and adults throughout Orange County. Photo by Mike Longo.

Koerner’s squad was one of two teams from the Cypress PONY Champions program that fields players from Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, West Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, Seal Beach and Westminster.

“Some All-Stars players participate in other sports in the fall,” he added. “So, they haven’t played baseball since last spring.  But they took right to it right away and it was great to see them having fun with new friends!”

“I just like playing,” said Crystal Leon of Cypress and member of the Red Sox. “I play shortstop and third. I like fielding ground balls and trying to throw the other team out at first!”

Other players were equally enthusiastic.

When her dad and co-coach Ben Singer of the Red Sox told his daughter Haley, a catcher from Rossmoor, that most pro players don’t catch two games in one day anymore, she quickly corrected him: “Well, I do! I’m an All-Star!”

OFF AND RUNNING!!  Jaxon Gumas of the Cypress PONY Red Sox All-Stars heads to first after grabbing a base hit off pitcher/coach Parry Havelaar of Huntington Beach.  Chavez was one of 60 special needs players from Southern California who participated in the First Annual Champions “Fall Classic”  at Oak Knoll Park in Cypress on Saturday, October 19.  The 20 year-old Cypress PONY Champions program provides free baseball for children and young adults with special needs in the fall and spring seasons. Photo by Mike Longo

Cypress PONY Champions Baseball will be entering it 20th season in Spring 2020. The League is free for children and young adults with special needs throughout the area.  It is supported by local business and non-profit foundations.  Those interested in finding out more about supporting or participating in the program as volunteers or players should contact Jon Peat at (714) 713-5153 and jonpeat@att.net  or Sherman Havelaar at (714) 904-4742 and shehavelaar@yahoo.com