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Sports

Mira Costa Baseball to Begin New Tradition, Honoring Former Mustangs

Mustangs will host El Segundo in the inaugural Henry Pearson Classic. Jon Wilhite to throw out first pitch.

Updated 4:48 p.m.

Editor's Note: The inaugural Henry Pearson Classic was rained out on March. The new date is Monday, March 28 at 4:30 p.m.

Spring officially began on March 20th and with springtime comes new beginnings.

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Wednesday will mark the commencement of the Henry Pearson Classic, a double-header between El Segundo and Mira Costa in remembrance of one of the South Bay’s great representatives of youth baseball. 

It has been just under two years since Pearson, a former Mustang infielder, Anaheim Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and Courtney Stewart lost their lives in a car-crash with a drunk driver.

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The tragedy devastated not only Southern California but sent shockwaves of outrage across the country as a vivid reminder of the ongoing struggle with drunk-driving accidents.

The doubleheader, which will be held at Manhattan Beach’s Marine Park, will provide a platform for remembering the youths lost in the automobile accident as well as an educational message of the perils of driving under the influence.

A new scoreboard will be unveiled with a quote from Pearson: “Play For Fun.”

“Henry was the ultimate team leader," said Mira Costa High head baseball coach Cassidy Olson. "He was a scrappy second baseman who knew he didn’t have the skills to go beyond high school as a player, but loved the game and wanted to stay involved.”

Pearson, who attended Arizona State University, was an aspiring sports agent who represented two professional athletes.

Known to his Mustang teammates as “The Diesel,” Pearson was an upbeat and popular figure in the South Bay Baseball scene. In his memory, every Mira Costa player’s uniform bears the initials HP on team hats.

It is the goal of local community fundraisers Mark McDonald, Tom Tyrer and Willy Leventhal that Pearson’s memory continue to live on in the community’s vibrant youth baseball culture.

“I know Henry’s family and everyone at Mira Costa is excited about remembering Henry and celebrating having Jon [Wilhite, the one survivor of the crash] with us," said Olson. "They played baseball together from about the age of six."

 Wilhite, another former Mira Costa baseball player and the only survivor of the crash, will be honored, too. His comeback from the accident, in which he suffered torn neck ligaments and fractured the bone connecting his spine and skull, has been remarkable.

A staggering number of people who suffered WIlhite’s injury, known as internal decapitation, die immediately. The rest are gravely impaired, but Wilhite has made a near-full recovery, resuming his characteristically active lifestyle.

“Jon is a medical-miracle and just so impressive," Olson said. "He’s back lifting weights and not missing a beat."

Festivities will begin at 4:30 p.m. with Wilhite throwing out the first pitch.

The doubleheader will begin at 5 p.m., with speeches from Mother’s Against Drunk Driving, Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities Program and others taking place in between the two games.

The games will be played under new lights, funded through local efforts from the high school, little league and donations from Manhattan Beach residents.

“The new lights are exceptional. Marine Park is now the best-lit field in the South Bay. It’s collegiate level in that regard,” Olson said.

The Mustangs come into the doubleheader with a 6-2 record on the season and riding a six-game win streak after dropping their first contests of the season.

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