Sports reporters and editors huddled around the tube like youngsters, their eyes watching every moment, from the pre-game festivities, to Sanchez's and Loretta's plays at the plate and on the field.
You can't blame the staffers for taking such pride in a couple of Major Leaguers who've they've watched develop ? chronicling their hits, errors, put-outs ? their careers.
It didn't matter Tuesday that Sanchez went 0-2 at the plate or that Loretta didn't play the whole game. They played great defense, but ultimately what mattered was that they were there.
And that was enough to celebrate.
Even non-baseball fans can take some pride in Sanchez's and Loretta's accomplishments. And both should be held up as examples of how hard work and perseverance can yield results in life.
A lot of sweat went into their big games ? there were a lot of highs and lows.
Yet both have improved their game to become great players. And the skills that made them what they are were honed ? at least in those early years ? right here in Burbank, Glendale and La Cañada Flintridge.
That is something to be proud of because, in a sense, they are reflections of the community ? a community of coaches, parents and teammates who cared enough to help them hone those skills, to get them to practice, to see their talent and to guide them in their careers.
They could have made wrong turns, and no doubt they've made mistakes. But clearly the bad never got bad enough to let self-doubt get the best of them, otherwise they wouldn't be where they were on Tuesday ? playing a field of dreams with the elite of the game.
Think of all the children who watched the game on Tuesday night to see their baseball heroes. In a world full of hopelessness, Sanchez and Loretta brought a little hope, all the way back to their roots.
Our mission as a newspaper, along with being a watchdog and a community advocate, is to be a cheerleader.
And Tuesday, the time was right to cheer. As a Pittsburgh crowd of thousands gave Sanchez a standing ovation when he was introduced, we were right there with them, for Sanchez and Loretta, for living their dreams.
