Keep a-goin’

Steve Virgen

If you strike a thorn or rose,

Keep a-goin’

If it hails or if it snows,

Keep a-goin’!

‘Taint no use to sit and whine

When the fish ain’t on your line;

Bait your hook and keep a-tryin’

Keep a-goin’

-- from “Keep A-Goin’”

by Frank L. Stanton

At first base for the Corona del Mar High softball team is Andrea

Dort, a sophomore who is one of the reasons why the Sea Kings are so

excited for the future.

Last year, Dort was brought up from the junior varsity team and

finished out the season on the varsity squad. She has played softball

for most of her life. This much is known about her.

But, take a closer look.

Dort is a 16-year-old girl who just weeks ago lost the love of her

life, her role model, her hero. Dort’s father, Lynn, died of cancer

March 25. He was 59. He was diagnosed with cancer February of 2001.

Andrea watched her father go through chemotherapy.

She, along with the rest of her family, gained hope with surgery,

yet remained steadfast in their faith when the cancer reappeared in

Lynn. Faith has always been the central figure in the Dort family.

Love has been there, too.

Lynn loved to coach his daughters, Andrea and Alison, in softball

for the Pacific Coast Bobby Sox. And, he also loved to coach other

children in the community. Lynn’s compassion is an attribute Andrea

carries on in her life.

Lynn always encouraged Andrea to play. When he passed away, Andrea

didn’t even think twice about quitting. She knew she would continue

to compete.

“When I’m running out to first base and about to throw ground

balls to everyone, I remember all the times when my dad would tell me

to do my best and I just remember that I need to keep going,” Dort

said after helping lead Corona del Mar to a 2-0 win over Santa

Margarita May 1. “I started playing when I was in the first grade and

my dad coached me almost every team I have been on. He always pushed

me to be a good softball player and not to give up. I know he’s

looking down on me, knowing that he’s glad that I’m still playing. He

just gives me the strength to keep going.”

While the Sea Kings are grateful Dort returned they were prepared

for her to sit out the rest of the season. Corona del Mar Coach

Nichole Thompson told her to take as much time as she needed. Dort

did not have to come back on the team. But she did.

“She has a great attitude,” Thompson said. “It takes a lot of

courage for her to come back after something like that.”

Andrea has been able to keep going with the support of her family,

her 13-year-old sister Alison, and her mother, Karen. Andrea’s

teammates have also been there for her. Before playing against

Saddleback, the Corona del Mar softball players attended the memorial

service for Lynn March 30.

Later on in the day, the Sea Kings dedicated their victory to the

Dorts. They defeated Saddleback, 6-2. Andrea wanted to play, but her

heart was too heavy. Still is. Yet, softball has been helpful for

Andrea, allowing her some escape while she deals with the harshest

pain she has ever experienced.

“Andrea misses him terribly,” Karen said. “She was extremely close

to her dad ... She’s the spitting image of him. She spoke at the

funeral. She talked about her dad being her hero and he truly was.”

Karen fell in love with Lynn because of his sincerity and

kindness. They were married for 23 years and were involved for four

years before they wed. She first met him when she worked for him.

Lynn was a commercial real estate broker.

Karen lasted only six months.

“I didn’t like working for him so I quit,” she said. “A month

after I quit I saw him. And the rest was history. He was one of the

most kindest, sincere, loyal people you would meet. There were over

1,000 people at his service. I think that’s a testimony of who Lynn

was. We were very blessed to have him in our lives.”

While softball has been great for Andrea and for the Dorts, their

faith has been what has held the family together. Karen, Andrea and

Alison attend Mariners Church in Irvine, and the community there has

been supportive, Karen said.

The game of softball and the memories Andrea has of her father

will always be there, too. Andrea plans to play throughout her years

at Corona del Mar.

“My dad was never a quitter and he taught me not to be a quitter,”

Andrea said. “I’m a part of this team and I’m going to continue to be

a part of this team.”