Photos by Gary Kohatsu
Ethan Carter takes a cut at a pitch at the June 11 “Gardena Sandlot” softball game involving Gardena police,
city staff and community members. The non-scoring game took place at Freeman Park.
Gardena police and the city of Gardena took to the Freeman Park baseball diamond for a special day at the “Gardena Sandlot” on June 11. Cops, city staff and kids in the community combined for a softball game that was a big hit for all participants, officials said. Pictured here include GPD Chief Mike Saffell, Detective Nacho Jimenez, Officer Andre Carter and recreation coordinator Ramiro Gutierrez. Photo by Gary KohatsuDetective Nacho Jimenez hits a deep ball to the outfield. Jimenez was among several Gardena police officers to participate in the sandlot contest at Freeman Park.New city of Gardena Rec. Leader Michelle Valencia tags out GPD officer Natalie DiAngelo at third base during the softball game held on June 11. The teams were divided equally with cops, city workers and community residents.GPD Officer Andre Carter shows his form at the plate in the June 11 softball game at Freeman Park. Carter served as a pitcher in the game. His family also participated.Base runner Lauren Carter, 10, signals her satisfaction at reaching second base. Infielder R.J. Cerda looks on waiting for the next batter.R.J. Cerda takes a rip at a pitch in the June 11 softball game organized by Gardena police and the city of Gardena Recreation Department. The Saturday event also included lunch and raffle prizes, the latter provided by the Gardena Police Department and Gardena Police FoundationOfficer Chris Mendez fires a ball to first base on an infield grounder. About six GPD officers participated in the June 11 softball game involving city workers and community members.Officer Chris De La Rosa warms up before the softball game. The presummer softball contest was organized by the Gardena Recreation Department, led by director Stephany Santin, and the Gardena Police Department, with Chief Mike SaffellD.J. Johnson, 11, shows his athleticism in fielding a ground ball at the June 11 sandlot softball contest. Teams were equally divided with police officers, community members and city staff. The game was another effort by the GPD to strengthen relations with the Gardena community.Stephany Santin, director of the city of Gardena Recreation and Human Services Department, is not shy about putting herself in the line of pitches. Many of her staff members also took part in the June 11 contestGPD Officer Andrew Cordova takes a strong rip at a pitch. Although still in police uniform, his one time at bat ended in a strikeoutJanina Hartwill, recreation supervisor, stretches for ball at first base. The Saturday event brought GPD officers, city of Gardena staff and community adults and kids together for an afternoon of fun and recreationJeremiah Robertson, brother-in-law of Mayor Tasha Cerda, connects with a pitch during the non-scoring softball contest at Freeman ParkShortstop and GPD officer, Natalie DiAngelo fields a ground ball to shortstop while baserunner Ernesto Bernal, 6, heads for third base. The friendly contest saw a good mix of athleticism, competitiveness and camaraderie among all players, regardless of age and status.Recreation coordinator Ramiro Gutierrez tracks a fly ball to shallow left field in the June 11 softball contest. Cheering on all the players were GPD cops, city workers, friends and family. Gutierrez is a former El Camino College journalism student.
