DREAMING TOGETHER S.F.'S SALAZAR EYES SCHOLARSHIP WHILE COPING WITH FATHER'S CANCER.Byline: Ramona Shelburne Ramona Shelburne is an American sports journalist currently writing for the Los Angeles Daily News. Shelburne was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She attended El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, California where she was a class valedictorian. Staff Writer SAN FERNANDO San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. - Luis LUIS Label Use Information System (US EPA) ``Junior'' Salazar Sa·la·zar , Antonio de Oliveira 1889-1970. Portuguese dictator (1932-1968) known for his programs of fiscal austerity and his attempts to repress growing opposition in Portugal's African colonies. can't attend all of his daughter's softball softball, variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Invented (1888) in Chicago as an indoor game, it was at various times called indoor baseball, mush ball, playground ball, kitten ball, and, because it was also played by women, ladies' games at San Fernando High. But he rests all day on the big games in order to have energy to go watch her play. When he does make it out, there's little evidence he has cancer, except to those who've known him long enough to see he's lost about 60 pounds. He still sits behind the backstop and cheers Selena Salazar's every move. When he needs to get her attention, he calls her ``Renee,'' her middle name. San Fernando usually does well in the games Junior Salazar can attend. ``When he's feeling good, Selena's spirits are up,'' San Fernando coach Peter Bernal said. ``But when he's not doing well, it's hard for her. We try to be a family, to support her as best we can. But it's very emotional for her.'' And it's not going to get any easier for Selena Salazar this summer. ``I know he doesn't want me to stop playing,'' she said. ``It's his dream that I go to college and get a scholarship. But at the same time, it's hard to be out there while he's going through all of this. I'm always thinking about him or how he is.'' Salazar is being strongly recruited by Fresno State and has received interest from at least 10 other schools. She's been one of the most dominant pitchers in the area and City Section for the past three years. But in order to fulfill ful·fill also ful·fil tr.v. ful·filled, ful·fill·ing, ful·fills also ful·fils 1. To bring into actuality; effect: fulfilled their promises. 2. her dream of earning a college scholarship, Salazar will have to perform at her best, when her heart wants to be with her ailing father as he undergoes chemotherapy chemotherapy (kē'mōthĕr`əpē), treatment of disease with chemicals or drugs. One chemotherapeutic approach is the development of selectively toxic substances, i.e. . ``This is the big summer for her in terms of recruiting,'' said Joe Aranda, Salazar's godfather and coach of her summer travel team, the Valley Breeze. ``I think Junior is trying to be strong for her, so that she feels good about playing and not obligated ob·li·gate tr.v. ob·li·gat·ed, ob·li·gat·ing, ob·li·gates 1. To bind, compel, or constrain by a social, legal, or moral tie. See Synonyms at force. 2. To cause to be grateful or indebted; oblige. to stay with him. ``The colleges know what she's going through with her dad, but they still need to see her play, so we're hoping that she can at least make it to some of the showcase tournaments.'' Junior Salazar knows all of this. He knows that his daughter wants to be with him, but he can't stand the thought she'd give up on her dream of playing college softball College softball is softball as played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education, predominantly in the United States. College softball is played by women at the intercollegiate level, whereas college baseball is played by men. . ``She's got to be brave,'' he said. ``Softball is how she's going to get to college. She needs to go out there and play.'' Salazar wasn't able to do that last summer. After learning her father had been diagnosed with cancer five days before the City Section quarterfinals, she decided not to play during the summer. It was important to get college exposure as a junior-to-be, but not as crucial as this summer. ``I know he wants me to be out there,'' she said. ``He talks about moving to wherever I go to college. I know it would make him really happy for me to play in college.'' Ramona Shelburne, (818) 713-3617 ramona.shelburne(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: San Fernando's Selena Salazar has dreamed of playing college softball, but one key will be playing a lot this summer while her father is going through chemotherapy for his cancer. Evan Yee/Staff Photographer |
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