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Where Are They Now: Former Dirtbag Gordon Sanchez

Ex-baseball pro new athletic director for Vista's Boys & Girls Club

By: Cecil F. Scaglione - For the North County Times

VISTA ---- The new athletic director at the Vista Boys & Girls Club, where locals gathered around TV sets to cheer the Rancho Buena Vista All-Stars in the recent Little League World Series, has a simple message for the young ball players. "They should just enjoy it all," said Gordon Sanchez.

The 34-year-old former San Marcos High School standout knows the feeling because he has similar memories of his own.

"I went to the College World Series in Omaha in 1991, so I know this is something they will never forget," Sanchez said last week. "It's something no one can ever take away from them."

Sanchez joined the Vista club a couple of months ago to fill a position that has been vacant for the past couple of years. He said he is now gearing up to focus a lot of the organization's attention on baseball.

Born and raised in Oceanside, Sanchez was awarded a baseball scholarship to Long Beach State and spent several years in the mid-1990s as a catcher in the New York Yankees minor league system, before an arm surgery ---- his third ---- dictated his departure.

But he never really left the game, although he has tried a couple of computer-related jobs, he taught baseball all along in some form or another, including coaching stints at Roadrunner Sports and Prime Time Sports in Vista.

He was recruited by the Boys & Girls Club because "we needed someone with a good strong baseball background," said executive director Peggy Reiber.

The club, which has about 1,000 young people on its roster, is opening a Little Padres Park in a few weeks and plans to launch intense baseball-related programs, including in-house leagues and traveling teams for 9- to 12-year-olds to compete throughout the region.

The ball field ---- valued at some $40,000 ---- is the 27th effort in the San Diego Padres' ongoing program to build Little League fields around the county. Lights should be installed early next year, Sanchez said.

"We'll teach the kids techniques and how to play the game," he said.

Sanchez plans to capitalize on contacts made during his years in professional baseball.

Besides working to build club membership by expanding the baseball program, another benefit is anticipated by his plans to conduct baseball camps.

"I'm going to get guys who played pro ball to come and teach." Part of the fees charged for these camps will go to the club.

He's also looking for a coach so he can devote more time to the entire athletic program, which also includes a flag-football league. That program also requires a coach, he said.

The only requirements for participation in the baseball program will be that the youngster be a club member ---- dues are $50 a year ---- and maintain healthy grades at school.

"We'll tutor them, make sure they do their home work, and train them here," he said.

Comments:

Thanks for the comments, Cheryl. $400,000 certainly sounds more realistic! Good luck to Gordon, and to the Vista Boys & Girls Club!

# posted by  Jeff Agnew : 8:53 AM

 

"Where Are They Now: Former Dirtbag Gordon Sanchez" "I'm going to get guys who played pro ball to come and teach." Part of the fees charged for these camps will go to the club. The only requirements for participation in the baseball program will be that the youngster be a club member ---- dues are $50 a year ---- and maintain healthy grades at school."

* Unfortunately actions speak louder than words. Our son was part of the Vista Eagles for 11 months during which we paid $125.00 per month. He also attended camps there for two years. Not once was a "pro", "ex-pro" or any sort near or around that field.

* "We'll tutor them, make sure they do their home work, and train them here," As far as teaching and inspiring the kids... If telling them that they are"Pansy-a**es", " Get your F***ing things out of the dug-out! "and walking to the pitcher's mound for a pitching change and telling the 11 year old to "Get your a** in the out field." Or, slamming a bat on the ground so hard that it breaks in two, then proceed to throw the bat on the roof of the dug-out (because the 10 year old kids are not talking to each other about where the play is next) is what Gordon Sanchez means by coaching, inspiring and enjoying the game... well then I guess he has accomplished his dream. His actions have provoked fear in his boys and doubts on our son's dream. "We'll teach the kids techniques and how to play the game," Is this how you were taught Mr. Sanchez?

* Mr. Sanchez might want to go back and edit his "Philosophy" on the Eagles web site, because "Employing a positive attitude with all players and using positive reinforcement of mechanical techniques. Placing a strong emphasis on good sportsmanship and mutual respect and support." * These statements are not put to action on the field.

* "Where Are They Now: Former Dirtbag Gordon Sanchez" In my humble opinion, Gordon Sanchez is just a different kind of “Dirtbag”

* There are good coaches and mentors out there, In my opinion Gordon Sanchez is not one of those .

*The Boys and Girls Club and Little Padres should monitor their director/coaches. We wish others better luck.

# posted by  Monica De Los Santos : 2:21 PM

 

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