Message of imily and brotherhood

They came armed with steel bats, their faces set with grim determination. Two rival neighborhood gangs came face-to-face Sunday afternoon to duke it out on a softball field at Boysen Park. The two neighborhoods, Westside Anaheim and Varrio Underhill (Eastside Anaheim), gathered together to play the first of a b^-of-five co-ed softball tournament to spread a message of unity and brotherhood. It was a strange sight to behold for about 100 spectators who came to watch the game in the hot afternoon sun. The two gangs have a long history of bitter hostility and violence. I am rooting for both teams, said 44-year-old Anaheim resident Danny Romero Sr. I want them to meet together as real people, and not see each other as who s better on what side of the street. Besides, this is better than having them shoot at each other, he said. During the game, players were heard cheering on teammates but there was plenty of light hearted taunting as well. One player from Underalf-jokingly pleaded with a Westside female batter. Please strikeout, please, he chanted. Others chased and sprayed each other with water in an effort to beat the sweltering heat. Many of the male players stripped off their shirts to reveal elaborate tattoos, all displaying their neighborhood namesake. The game was made possible by Solevar, a nonprofit grassroots outreach group that helps to alleviate tension between atrisk neighborhoods. Seferino Garcia, the executive director, is hoping to create a United Varrio Power neighborhood softball league. Both teams chipped in to reserve the playing field for the day s game as well as their team T-shirts, all printed with the United Varrio Power logo. With everyone chipping in, it really makes them feel that everyone contributed, that they all made this happen, Garcia said. Garcia said the league is in desperate need of sports equipment and is hoping that B.U.M. Equipment will sponsor its next game on Aug. 9. ay, said Holly Perez, who came up with the league name. This is such a positive event that they ll look up to that and hopefully want to do the same thing, she said. The West Anaheim-based outreach program also promotes nogang, no-drugs and stay-inschool ethics among high risk and gang-affiliat