Angels still sizzling, even on golf course

With Angel memorabilia at an all-time high after winning the World

Series, organizers of the first Wally Joyner and Friends Golf Classic

hit a late-inning grand slam.

“It all happened within a seven-week period. People were amazed we

pulled it off,” said Newport Harbor Baseball Association President

Aaron Rios, whose organization was the beneficiary of Monday’s golf

tournament at Talega Golf Club in San Clemente, where several

celebrities from the baseball world teed it up with amateurs, a group

that included local mayors Todd Ridgeway (Newport Beach) and Gary

Monahan (Costa Mesa).

Angels pitcher Troy Percival, who played in the event, donated a

baseball from the 2001 All-Star game in Seattle signed by members of

the American League, which fetched $700 during the auction. Other

Angel items that went up for bid were a signed ball by Francisco

(K-Rod) Rodriguez, which went for $250; a ball signed by members of

the Angel pitching staff ($350), which was brought to the event by

Angel pitching coach Bud Black; and a signed Garrett Anderson bat

($400).

“Percival signed autographs for about an hour after he came off

the golf course,” said Rios, who added that all but two of the 17

celebrities stayed for the post-golf festivities.

San Diego Padres General Manager Kevin Towers and field manager

Bruce Bochy also attended the event, as well as Cincinnati Reds

Manager Bob Boone, a former Angels catcher. Bochy was the celebrity

on the winning team.

“The players brought that energy, which existed from the baseball

season. It was just there. You could feel that buzz,” Rios said. “You

could feel it.”

Celebrities at the event, which raised about $35,000 for NHBA,

signed baseballs that were later sold at $20 each. Joyner, the former

Angel first baseman, was the event’s chairman and promised Rios he’d

bring more players next year.

“It was just a tremendous success,” Rios said of the event, a

best-ball scramble that was played in ideal weather.

The event was designed to help NHBA’s ability to provide baseball

scholarships for underprivileged children, improve and maintain the

baseball fields, purchase much-needed equipment, pay for professional

training for the coaches and provide player clinics.

It is the priority of NHBA and the golf tournament to make sure

every child in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, who wants to play

baseball, is not excluded for any reasons.

*

Members of the winning team Monday were Rob Beasley, Mark

Wawsczyk, Penny Smith and Bochy with a gross 54, followed by

celebrity Glenn Hoffman and amateurs Andy Lovand, John Tillman,

Michael Perez and Bob Keough. Joyner captured third place with Brad

Schroth, Mike Russell, Doug Thompson and Ridgeway.

*

Today at 10 a.m. is the 13th annual USC-UCLA Golf Classic at

Strawberry Farms Golf Club. A group led by former UCLA quarterback

Rick Bashore will square off against a group led by former USC

quarterback Paul McDonald of Newport Beach.