Father’s son following in his footsteps playing for team from Mexico in Pony tourney

Players from the Los Mochis 12-and-under team before Thursday’s opening ceremony. (PHOTOS: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

It’s looking like it will be a memorable weekend for former University High School baseball player Bobby Gomez and his son Blake.

Blake Gomez will be playing for one of the 20 teams from Mexico competing in the 33rd annual Irvine Pony Memorial Day Tournament this weekend.

Teams from Mexico have been a big part of this tournament and organizers love the spirit and energy that the teams and their fans bring to the games each year.

“When I was young my father and some of our coaches when we were in Pony Baseball took us to Hermosillo, Mexico, the sister city of Irvine, we played down there in a tournament, became friends with the families and baseball coaches there so we invited them to come to Irvine back when we were 12,” explained Bobby Gomez, a 2002 Uni High graduate, during Thursday’s opening day ceremony at Harvard Park.

“We had them stay with host families and we became friends and all these years later, Mexico keeps bringing more and more teams. So, this year my son was 12 years old so I asked Fernando Hernandez who oversees all of the Mexico organization if my son could play this year and he said, ‘yes, of course’ so my son is playing with Los Mochis 12-u along with my friend Kyle Lavington and his son is playing 6-u.

“So it’s really great to see full circle something that I did as a kid to now watch my son do the same thing in a tournament my dad (Manuel) was one of the early people with the tournament.”

Blake Gomez, a first baseman and pitcher said he’s looking forward to playing with the team from Mexico.

“We haven’t had a game but I’ve been able to talk to a couple of the players …. they seem pretty nice, ” he said. “It’s very exciting and I hope I’ll prove to the coach that I can play maybe next year.”

The tournament runs through Monday in Irvine, Costa Mesa and Tustin.

For full view, click on the photo:

Bobby Gomez with his son Blake Gomez.

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—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com

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