Legion team falls just short of winning state title for late coach

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

They trailed by four runs on two separate occasions. They committed five errors, their pitchers surrendered 11 runs on 20 hits, and they stranded 12 runners on base.

But they never quit.

The Las Vegas Post 40 American Legion squad, composed of ballplayers from Las Vegas and Valley highs, came up short Saturday at UNLV in their quest to win the state title.

But it was the never-say-die attitude they displayed in an 11-10 loss in 12 innings to Sierra Vista High’s affiliate that makes this group of teenagers from Northeast and Central Las Vegas champions.

The efforts would have made Izzy proud.

Izzy DiMaria, the team’s longtime coach, died in March of complications from bone cancer. The team dedicated its season to their fallen coach, playing every game with heavy hearts. DiMaria was 77.

They finished with a 21-18 record and were seeded No. 7 in the eight-team tournament field. Playing against Southern Nevada baseball royalty — schools such as Bishop Gorman, Green Valley and Sierra Vista — the players never doubted their abilities and never wavered in their aspirations to honor their coach.

They exceeded expectations by reaching the title game, and if weren’t for some untimely errors, should be the team advancing to next week’s regional. When DiMaria was diagnosed with cancer 11 years ago, doctors told him he didn’t have long to live.

But he proved the doctors wrong — just like the players did in making a memorable run through the state tournament.

“Izzy battled for me on and off the field, so I had to battle for him,” pitcher Aldo Mora said. “He’s just a great person. He had so much confidence in us. That inspired us to do great things.”

Gino DiMaria, Izzy’s son, took over coaching the squad this summer, and using some of his dad’s philosophies, the group had a season he calls one of his most memorable. When Gino went to mound to change pitchers in extra innings, he gave the exiting pitcher a huge hug — something his dad never hesitated doing.

He was diagnosed with cancer in 1999 but missed very few innings with his baseball team. He clearly was weaker in the last few years, but the illness couldn't take away his biggest gift — helping children.

Izzy was a big supporter of young athletes, always going above and beyond to make their athletic experience enjoyable. He paid a majority of the league fees, purchased uniforms, and more importantly, would be available when the players needed someone to talk to.

He understood teenagers could be rough around the edges and make mistakes. But he always gave them a second chance.

“Our minds were on Izzy and trying to win this for him,” rising senior infielder Jesse Acosta said. “Izzy was like a father to me. He would do anything for us. He would stick up for us if we got in trouble.”

Izzy’s coaching jacket was hung in the dugout for all games this summer and the players clearly had him on their minds. They stayed roughly 30 minutes after the game on the field — hugging, crying and thanking each other for the wild run through the tournament.

“These kids played with so much emotion, man,” Gino DiMaria said. “Some of them knew my dad, and some of them never met him but appreciated what he’s done for their teammates. The kids learned to believe in themselves and each other. I’m so proud of them for that.”

When the players huddled in front of their dugout before the top of the sixth inning for a pep talk from DiMaria, they broke the huddle by yelling, “We Believe.”

They proceeded to send 11 batters to the plate in scoring four runs to take a 10-9 lead. However, they didn’t score again, including falling to record a hit in extra innings with seven of the nine outs coming by strikeout.

Sierra Vista’s Blair Goldsack struck out eight in 3 and 2/3 innings of relief to earn the win, and plated the winning run with a game-ending single in the bottom of the 12th.

As soon of Goldsack’s single landed in the outfield, reality started setting in for the Las Vegas players. While they came short in their ultimate goal, they realized something with their play this week: they are winners and capable of accomplishing anything they set their minds to.

That’s something Izzy would be proud of.