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The Victory Sports Foundation Oscar Romero Memorial

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Oscar Romero Family (L-R) Alanna-Rose, Leanndra, Casanndra (with Orelia) and Daniel Sainz, Orlando and his wife Jo Ann. (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson)

Everything that could possibly be written or said about legendary Tucson High baseball coach Oscar Romero has already been put forth. Simply, Oscar was all that we know and more. Born in 1960 in Barrio Centro, Oscar passed away last September after a lifetime of being a Badger – literally. Oscar lived long enough to see the birth of his granddaughter Orelia, and I know that she was the answer to his wildest dreams, his greatest accomplishment and, possibly, his biggest heartbreak and truest love at the same time.

We will never see an Oscar with grey hair and we will never see Oscar sitting in the stands at Cherry Field in a decade or two as an honored figure. Cancer took all that away from us. But we take comfort knowing that Oscar lives on through his four children and Orelia. He will live through Orelia’s grandchildren.

Oscar will also live on through the many, many players who ran the bases for him. 488 victories in the scorebook fail to compare the their life victories. If you respected the game, you honored him. Oscar is there.

When Oscar stepped away from Tucson High in In 2018, I asked him to put in his own words what it meant to lead Tucson High:

“It has been my honor to have coached at my alma mater. To have coached at the most storied Baseball High School in America was quite a challenge. Growing up as a kid I used to always dream about putting the red and white on. I watched past players before me like Ron Hassey, Pete Otero, Mike Odom and Al Lopez, who I idolized.

I grew up with parents who loved baseball but always trusted my coaches and never questioned their intent. My father gave me the work ethic from a young age to work hard and to pursue perfection and your best effort was the key. My patience and perseverance came from my mother, she was a rock but always had a sensible quiet demeanor in handling situations.

I think I had a successful playing career at Tucson High and had many accolades at Tucson High. I also had great coaches like Ray Adkins and Tom Lundy who guided me and believed in me. Coaching had its bumps along the road but, all in all, it taught me how to treat and push young men to perform at their best. That is all I have ever striven for, having players to reach higher than they thought possible.

My father challenged me. He would say don’t be like me be better than me. I have given every ounce of my 35 years to making the program the best it could be. I wish the next candidate the best, but the torch will be passed on with keeping up the tradition of success at THS. My advice to them is treat all of them like your own sons, ask for their best but, at the end of the day, love them with a new-day approach.

I am done coaching high school but have always had aspirations of coaching college baseball. My second dream job would have been to coach at my other alma mater Pima, but they hired a legend and my coach who I have always had a high admiration for, coach Richard Alday.

The real last stop for me was to spend time and watch my son Orlando play college baseball at Adams State University, a D-II college in Alamosa, Colorado.

Funny how timing is a factor in our destiny, Adams State is losing some of their coaching staff and I inquired about helping out and was hired instantly. I will be taking over infield play, hitting instruction and defensive and offensive situations and, of course, help recruit Arizona players to the RMAC for Adams State.

The dream continues, watching my son play and continuing my last dream of coaching college baseball. I have been truly blessed. A quick thank you to all past players, assistant coaches, parents and administrators who always trusted me with our special Tucson High baseball players.”

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