Umpires Host Cordova in Colorado

13-year-old Lakewood umpire Josh Cordova's tale came full circle as he joined Chris Guccione and crewmates Tony Randazzo, Laz Diaz, and Cory Blaser for Sunday's Dodgers-Rockies game in Colorado. @UmpsCare Charities helped arrange logistics as Cordova and family walked on the field for the plate meeting, having sat in on the umpires' own pregame meeting in the dressing room.

Cordova, whose youth game devolved through a complete loss of parental sportsmanship and into criminal violence, was honored during the Coors Field pre-game festivities as he met with the umpires, Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts, and Rockies Manager Bud Black.
Related Post: Chris Guccione to Host Youth Lakewood Umpire (6/28/19).

Cordova and Blaser review lineup cards.

Salida, CO native Guccione was the primary umpire who reached out to Cordova to show support: "I thought it was the perfect opportunity to reach out to Josh, not only to him but his family, to say, 'Hey, I'm proud of you, I'm rooting for you and what you did was the right thing.'"

Cordova added, "I don’t want this to be all about me; it must’ve been scary for the 7-year-olds, seeing their parents on the field. I don’t want them to have the idea that baseball is like that. I want them to have the idea that baseball is a great game, to love the game."

"I'm proud of you" - Chris Guccione.

In the end, Cordova received umpiring gear, including a few #68 jerseys and a chest protector, and he recounted one of the questions he asked the big league umps as he sat in during their pre-game: "I asked them a couple questions...just like, 'How many people have you thrown out?'"

For the record, Guccione has 58 career MLB ejections, Randazzo has 39, Diaz has 35, and Blaser has 14 in just under 1,000 career big league games.

Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Cordova attends MLB plate meeting with Guccione & crew (COL)