November 5, 2024

OC Sports Zone: Community First

(PHOTOS) 2020 started with tragedy but games still went on and teams brought home titles

Baseball fans honor former OCC baseball coach John Altobelli during a ceremony in January at the school’s baseball field. Those attending wore T-Shirts that read, ‘forever a Pirate.’ (File photo: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

In the coming months, as we count down to the end of 2020, we’re presenting some of the memorable photos.

January 2020 included tragedy with the death of legendary Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, who died in a helicopter crash. His wife Keri and the couple’s youngest daughter Alyssa, 13, were also killed.

Nine people died, including Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna.

Altobelli, 56, was about to begin his 28th year at OCC head coach.

Orange County residents and people across the world reacted with shock and compassion. Coaches recognized the impact that the Altobelli’s, Bryants and the others who died had.

There were other developments off the field in January, when sports was still going strong before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

There were league titles, an all-star football game, a jersey number retirement ceremony for the Angels’ David Fletcher, a former Cypress High standout, and the announcement of a new football coach at Crean Lutheran High School, Rick Curtis.

In addition, legendary Santa Ana High boys soccer Coach Joe Peñaflor got his 300th career victory

We’ve put together some of the memorable photos from January.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo: