With 300 kids representing 22 teams spanning the tee ball division through juniors, the Peter Mendoza Sports Complex was absolutely packed with people on Saturday, March 15. Volunteers brought a fast start to the day, beginning at 7am, as they sold coffee and donuts to spectators and decorated the field and stands, ensuring a smooth commencement with great fanfare to usher in the 66th season of local baseball for Union City National Little League (UCNLL).
A winning tradition, which began in 1959, continues this spring with another powerhouse season ahead for boys and girls in the baseball divisions as well as girls on the softball side. In attendance on Saturday were players and coaches, families and fans, as well as UCPD Captain Andrew Holt, the 7th Street fire station crew and city council member Jaime Patiño. The players vowed that this season “win or lose [they] will always do [their] best.”
The opening day ceremony was presided over by everybody’s favorite disc jockey, JJ Amaya, who hosts the 89.3 KOHL show Lowriding with JJ weekly on Tuesday nights. He’s been hosting his radio show for over 45 years, but believe it or not, he’s been a part of the Union City National family for much longer. Starting in 1968 at the age of eight and continuing until 18, JJ himself spent a good deal of time on the diamond.
But the legacy doesn’t stop there. His father, Jessie Amaya, who JJ lovingly refers to as “Pops” has been the face of the UCNLL Blue Crew for 56 years. As the longest serving volunteer umpire, Jessie was honored at Saturday’s event with a plaque and a glowing speech from longtime league coach and former player Daniel Gonzalez.
Jessie was initially goaded into volunteering for the league by his late wife, but once he started umping he never looked back. As JJ recalls it, “Pops understands the value of this place. They didn’t have a league when he was growing up and as a kid he worked picking tomatoes in the fields where the baseball fields are located today.”
Talk about league legacies—another nearly lifetime volunteer umpire is Armando Hurtado Senior, whose son Armando Hurtado II serves as president of the board. Armando’s wife Veronica serves as secretary and three of their four children play in the league.
Armando grew up in the neighborhood and played for UCNLL his entire little league career, winning several flags and playing on All-Star and Tournament of Champions teams. He went on to play for four years at James Logan High School—three years on varsity—and was an integral part of the 2004 MVAL championship team.
“UC National gave me the greatest memories as a kid,” said Armando. “I met my lifelong best friends here, and now I want to do the same for our kids and our community.”
Under Armando’s leadership the league has successfully recovered from repeated counts of theft and declining enrollment numbers. In 2025, the league isn’t pushing up daisies, instead UCNLL is bringing home three new championship flags from the 2024 season.
With dozens of TOC titles, 26 sectional, eight divisional, and two Western Regional All-Star Championships under its belt, UC National is no stranger to winning. “The league is a testament in time to so many developing baseball players that have served not only our league, but used us as a springboard to go on to play for high school, college and some on to the pros,” said JJ. “It all got started here in our home at Union City National Little League.”
But none of this is surprising to anyone who’s been a part of the league for any amount of time. It’s a family affair at UC National, and everyone is welcome to spend the day at the ballpark every weekend during the three-month spring season. And it’s not just family members that get together at the fields, but whole neighborhoods too.
People who otherwise may barely find the time to wave a casual greeting to their next-door neighbors emerge as if from a winter cocoon, claiming a bit of grass or a special spot in the stands and cheer, chat, and cheer some more. The neighborhood itself becomes a family during baseball season, and Union City National gives everyone a sunny, outdoor living room to hang out in. So, with that being said, come on out to the fields and let’s play ball!
