ESCONDIDO, Calif. – Thursday afternoon, the Mountain View Park Little League field in Escondido was filled with hugs and tears.
“I wish I didn’t have to do this, you know, but it has to be. It’s beautiful. It’s coming out nice. We’re just expecting the support of the community. I have a hole in my heart,” Norma Tapia, Junior’s mother, said. “He’s gone and it hurts but I’m always going to have him here,” Rosa Lopez, Junior’s grandmother, said as she patted her heart.The big-time baseball player with the big-time smile was missed by many as they waited to visit with him.
“He knew all of their stats, all of the players, everything,” Ana Lopez, Junior’s sister, said. “And he always stated his one goal, his one wish was to always, always at least get a ball or a jersey from Tatis or Machado.”