From LBPOSTSports.com: On Thursday afternoon at Cabrillo High’s softball field, a very special guest was on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the team’s home opener. Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster made the trip, choosing to do the honors for the Moore League’s youngest school for a couple of reasons. First, he and fourth-year softball coach Armando Padilla are friends, going back to when they both used to work out at Belmont Athletic Club. Second, and more importantly, Mayor Foster chose to do the duties at Cabrillo instead of a Poly or a Wilson, in order to remind people that West Long Beach is still Long Beach.
“I think it’s important,” he said. “Some people think the city stops at the 710, and I want them to remember this area.” Before the game, when he was shaking hands with the Jags softball squad, Foster told them, “I love your school,” something that means a lot given that Cabrillo is the often-ignored newest school in the LBUSD (and the Moore League). He wasn’t just making nice, either—Foster held his inaugural address and mayoral swearing in on the Cabrillo campus.
But while the school on Santa Fe is familiar to him, baseball and softball are practically second nature. Since taking office he’s also thrown out the first pitch for the Armada, and Foster coached Little League baseball for 11 years, even making it to the LL World Series in Williamsport once. “We had to win 21 postseason games to get there,” he recalled. “And eleven of them were by one run.” And that lengthy season meant long afternoons for Foster, as the Mayor demonstrated his managerial style even back then, by calling every pitch in himself.
After everyone got situated, the lineups were announced, the Mayor was introduced, and then he wound up and threw what looked like a pretty decent high strike, officially opening the home schedule for the Jags. Whatever Mayoral Magic he may have put on the ball seemed to last, as Cabrillo beat their opponent, St. Mary’s, 11-1 on the mercy rule after five innings. Jags pitcher Janessa Martinez tossed a no-hitter—in the first inning, St. Mary’s batters only managed two foul tips’ worth of contact.
Mayor Foster left shortly after, duty calling him away from the lopsided contest. But it seems that even after he drove back east across the bridge, Long Beach’s Mayor remembers his city’s west side. As we move through the season, hopefully he’s not the only one.
Click here for the rest of the story by Mike Guardabascio…