Behind the Badge
Judging by the enthusiasm of the players on the field and in the dugout, and the cheers resonating from the bleachers, the scene at a Santa Ana park recently could just as well have been the seventh game of the World Series, not a softball game featuring teams of fourth and fifth grade girls.
But this wasn’t just a softball game.
When the Bumblebees and Ladybugs took the field at Thornton Park on April 18, it marked the inaugural game in the Santa Ana Police Department’s Police Athletic & Activity League’s (PAAL) softball league.
Santa Ana Police Department Assistant Chief Robert Rodriguez, left, encourages the Bumblebees team as play begins for the new softball league of the Santa Ana Police Athletic and Activity League in Santa Ana on Monday, April 18, 2022.
Photo by Paul Rodriguez/for Behind the Badge
PAAL, a community program of the Santa Ana Police Department focused on fostering bonds between kids and police officers, had a youth baseball league and a running program, but no softball — until now.
Most of the Ladybugs are students at Jackson Elementary School, located on the west side of town, and the majority of the Bumblebees attend Roosevelt Elementary on the east side. The teams are playing a six-game series, alternating each week between each team’s home field.
Opening day festivities included player introductions, a flyover from Orange County Sheriff’s Department helicopter Duke, and a performance of the National Anthem.
Ladybugs players stand as the National Anthem is played before the start of their game against the Bumblebees in Santa Ana.
Photo by Paul Rodriguez/for Behind the Badge
Most of the girls in the softball league are not currently members of PAAL, said Officer John Holcomb, who oversees the PAAL program for the department.
“This is just part of our outreach of expanding past our PAAL center walls reaching out further in the community,” Holcomb said. “We picked softball because there was nothing in the city for girls of this age for this type of sport.”
With what some see as challenging times for police and community relations, creating these alliances is critical, Holcomb said.
“It’s important to create that relationship between the police, the youth, and the families through athletics,” Holcomb said.
Santa Ana Police Department Cpl. John Kachirisky, coach of the Bumblebees, gives a high five to Ayeni Medina as she is introduced before the game against the Ladybugs in Santa Ana.
Photo by Paul Rodriguez/for Behind the Badge
Bumblebees Coach Cpl. John Kachirisky learned about the league from an email asking for officers to volunteer as coaches.
“I thought this was a great opportunity to coach softball and be involved with the youth program,” said Kachirisky, who has been involved in his children’s softball league for years and is currently the league president.
Most of the girls in the league have never played an organized sport before, Kachirisky said. The league is 100 percent free for the players and their families, many of whom are of limited means.
“This is just a great opportunity for them to be able to enjoy a youth sport, getting a full uniform,” Kachirisky said.
Santa Ana Police Department Assistant Chief Robert Rodriguez throws out the first pitch before the start of the softball game between the Bumblebees and the Ladybugs in Santa Ana on Monday, April 18, 2022. It was opening day for the new softball league of the Santa Ana Police Athletic and Activity League.
Photo by Paul Rodriguez/for Behind the Badge
Of Violeta Higareda’s four children, two of her daughters are playing in the league. Higareda said if the league weren’t free, she would not have been able to afford to pay for two children to play.
“It’s great,” she said, “getting them exercising, getting active. We haven’t really been able to do sports because we have two more children. So, this was a great opportunity for them to get active and get enrolled in sports. They love it.”
For now, the Ladybugs and Bumblebees are the only two teams, but Holcomb sees the softball program expanding over time. There are 170 kids in the PAAL program and the department is close to opening a second location on the east side of town, Holcomb said.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department helicopter Duke 2 does a fly over during the opening day ceremony for the new softball league of the Santa Ana Police Athletic and Activity League in Santa Ana.
Photo by Paul Rodriguez/for Behind the Badge
Playing a sport provides the youngsters with life lessons, said Commander Jose Gonzalez, the Ladybugs’ coach.
“They learn the value of working hard, teamwork, taking defeat and accepting victory in a respectful manner,” Gonzalez said. “To be able to hit off of a coach, catch a ground ball, throw the ball, it’s rewarding for me, but more importantly, for them.”
The Ladybugs’ first baseman makes the catch for an out against the Bumblebees during the opening day game for the new softball league of the Santa Ana Police Athletic and Activity League in Santa Ana.
Photo by Paul Rodriguez/for Behind the Badge
Ixury Saabedra of the Bumblebees scores a run against the Ladybugs on opening day. Photo by Paul Rodriguez/for Behind the Badge
The Ladybugs and the Bumblebees teams pose for a photo at the end of their game in Santa Ana on Monday, April 18, 2022. Photo by Paul Rodriguez/for Behind the Badge
Players from the Ladybugs and Bumblebees exchange high-fives at the end of the game in Santa Ana. Photo by Paul Rodriguez/for Behind the Badge
Emily Nguyen, left, of the Ladybugs lets out a yell before the start of the game against the Bumblebees in Santa Ana on Monday, April 18, 2022. It was opening day for the new softball league of the Santa Ana Police Athletic and Activity League. Photo by Paul Rodriguez/for Behind the Badge
Santa Ana Police Cpl. John Kachirisky, coach of the Bumblebees, waves Darlene Renteria home to score against the Ladybugs. Photo by Paul Rodriguez/for Behind the Badge
Officer John Holcomb of the Santa Ana Police Athletic and Activity League serves as the announcer for the opening day game of the league’s new girls softball league in Santa Ana. The league has two teams, the Ladybugs and the Bumblebees, and will eventually expand the number of teams. Photo by Paul Rodriguez/for Behind the Badge
Monica Cisneros, left, of the Bumblebees gets a fist bump from her coach, Santa Ana Police Commander Jose Gonazalez. Photo by Paul Rodriguez/for Behind the Badge
Ayleni Medina, left, of the Bumblebees is tagged out by Kelzy Salinas of the Ladybugs as she tries to advance to third base on opening day for the new softball league of the Santa Ana Police Athletic and Activity League. Photo by Paul Rodriguez/for Behind the Badge
Santa Ana Police Commander Jose Gonzalez, coach of the Ladybugs, encourages Carmen Fuentes as she prepares to step in to bat against the Bumblebees in Santa Ana. Photo by Paul Rodriguez/for Behind the Badge
Ladybugs batter Sophis Gonzalez makes contact during the game against the Bumblebees in Santa Ana on opening day for the new softball league of the Santa Ana Police Athletic and Activity League. Photo by Paul Rodriguez/for Behind the Badge
Bumblebees players cheer a teammate during their game against the Ladybugs in Santa Ana on Monday, April 18, 2022. Photo by Paul Rodriguez/for Behind the Badge
Santa Ana Police Cpl. John Kachirisky, coach of the Bumblebees, left, and Commander Jose Gonzalez, coach of the Ladybugs, set up a tee for batter Sophia Gallegos in Santa Ana on Monday, April 18, 2022. Photo by Paul Rodriguez/for Behind the Badge
Ixury Saabedra of the Bumblebees fields a grounder against the Ladybugs. Photo by Paul Rodriguez/for Behind the Badge
Santa Ana Police Department Commander Jose Gonzalez, coach of the Ladybugs, delivers a pitch during the opening day game for the new softball league of the Santa Ana Police Athletic and Activity League in Santa Ana on Monday, April 18, 2022. Photo by Paul Rodriguez/for Behind the Badge
