La Verne Baseball Team Co-Hosting Tournament to Help Toys for Tots

The joy of giving and the fun of baseball come together this weekend thanks to local travel baseball teams that have partnered to host a fundraising tournament at Ralph Welch Regional Park in Pomona.

The SoCal Cobras, an 11-and-under team based in La Verne, and the Pomona Titans, a 13-and-under team based in Pomona, will host the event as a way to support the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, organizers said.

Several of local and regional travel baseball teams in the 11U and the 13U divisions will take part.  As part of the entry fee, teams are being asked to contribute a new unwrapped toy to the Toys for Tots program, which helps disadvantaged children in the local community. 

“We believe it is important we reinforce the lessons we are teaching the boys about teamwork on the field,” said Jesse Obregon, manager of the SoCal Cobras, “The lessons they are learning about baseball are really life lessons. Part of working together as a team is learning to work toward a common purpose that is higher than the individual wants and needs of each player. Working together like this — toward something big — makes the heart of our team bigger, stronger, and balanced. Ultimately it is this kind of focus on the big things that brings out the best in each individual.”

The tournament runs Saturday and Sunday at Ralph Welch Park in Pomona with game times starting at 8 a.m. and running through 8 p.m. on Saturday, with championship round games starting at 8 a.m. Sunday.  The public is encouraged to come out and support this event. Admission to the games is free, though toy donations are gladly accepted for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.