Saved by the district

Of course I pass this field every time I go to a soccer or

football game at Orange Coast College.

I see the backstop rising into the air and know the baseball field

backs up somewhat close to the soccer field.

But I still didn’t heed the warning signs.

When driving to attend the women’s soccer team’s opening playoff

game against Glendale Nov. 19, I eagerly saw a spot in the front row

of the parking lot that sits just across a two-lane road from the

field. Sorry, I don’t know the name of the lot if there is one.

Now it was just a short walk to the field and I thought it would

be a quick out back to the office after the game. In covering games

I’ve learned to always seek a spot that’s close to the place of play,

but more importantly, a place that allows me the easiest way out

after the game.

That particular day it didn’t really matter where I parked because

only about 100 people showed up to the game so the traffic wouldn’t

present a problem.

The game went on and Coast prevailed, 5-1, to advance to the

second round and I quickly scampered to interview Coach Barbara Bond

and a few players for my story.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have guessed what would happen

next.

OCC Athletic Director Fred Hokanson approached me with a slight

grin, one of concern.

He said, “Do you own a black car?”

I thought, “Oh no, I parked in the wrong place and got towed or my

car was stolen.”

Well, it didn’t get stolen but the next words Hokanson said rang

through me like chimes on Christmas morning.

“You should never park that close to the baseball field, your

windshield is shattered,” he said.

I hurriedly ran to see my car and right there in the left

lower-portion of the windshield was a circular shatter mark that

extended toward the top and the sides like a spider web.

I guess a foul ball had shot backward and landed square on my

windshield.

I suddenly became quite headachy and I couldn’t really think right

except about where I was going to take it and how much it would cost.

Hokanson told me to call him the next morning and he would see

what he could do.

I thought I would have to dip into my savings to pay for however

much it would cost.

Luckily I had to come in the next morning early to finish up some

youth soccer so I called the athletic office and spoke with Donna

Wright who got me in touch with Marie (I apologize I didn’t get a

last name) with the auto glass detail company the Coast Community

College District contracts out to.

She promptly returned my call and I gave her the make, model and

year of my car and asked me when would be the best time for someone

to come out.

I thought, “This is strange, usually they want me to go to their

place.”

I told her sometime between noon and 2 p.m. that day and she said

that would be fine.

So at about 2:30 p.m. that day a man stopped by the Pilot and in

30 minutes I had a new windshield.

No cost, the district picked up the tab. And I didn’t have to

drive my car to a repair shop. They came out to my place of work,

which is commendable.

Though Thanksgiving has passed, we can be thankful every day about

something, right?

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people that

made this repair possible, including Hokanson, Wright and Shirley

Macy at OCC, the wonderful people at the district (hopefully you know

who you are), Marie and Jeff with the auto glass repair company.

If there was anyone I didn’t mention I apologize, but I want you

to know how thankful I am of your work on this.

It was no one’s fault that my car got hit. The baseball team was

simply practicing and my car unfortunately was in the way of a

ground-seeking foul ball.

In hindsight, the shatter taught me a lesson that I will carry

with me whenever I go to a soccer, football or other game at the

college.

Never park that close to the baseball field again.