Nevada
Pair of Southern Nevada fathers thrilled to watch their sons play at JUCO World Series
There is nothing more a parent wants more than for their child to live and achieve their dreams.
Two sets of fathers and sons are sharing that dream at the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series.
Mike Cruz, who played for the College of Southern Nevada in the 2003 JUCO World Series, and Coyotes coach Nick Garritano are watching their sons play in the 2024 national championship tournament.
“It gives me goosebumps,” Cruz said of getting to watch his son play in the JUCO World Series. “It’s awesome. It was all his decision to come here. It’s exciting, it was for me. I’m so glad him and his team get to experience it.”
Garritano has not played in the JUCO World Series but is coaching the Coyotes in it for a second time, but this time his son, Nick Garritano Jr. is playing.
“It’s a feeling I cannot describe in words,” Garritano said. “To be able to share the field with him in this stadium is a dream come true to be honest. There will be memories we will share for the rest of our lives. I feel truly blessed.”
Cruz, who helped the Coyotes win the 2003 national title, made the trip from Reno, Nevada, to watch his son, Mike Cruz Jr.
The Coyotes (51-10) defeated Northwest Florida State College 7-6 on Saturday in the World Series.
Cruz Sr. started at third base for the Community College of Southern Nevada in its first JUCO appearance in only the program’s fifth year of existence. The Coyotes lost their first game to Seminole College (Fla.), but came back through the losers’ bracket, winning five consecutive games to win the national title. They were the first team to lose their first game of the tournament and come back to win the national title. Cruz received the Jay Tolman Outstanding Defensive Player award.
“Oh, man, what an experience,” Cruz said. “We lost our first game to Seminole Florida. The first pitch of the game was a triple off the fence. We were all, ‘Whoa!’ After that game, our moral was high. We still knew we were going to do it. No one doubted it.”
Cruz went on to play at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and is now a heavy equipment operator for a construction company in Reno.
“Grand Junction is the top by far,” Cruz said regarding his baseball experience. “Later in the week, the stands will be packed. Signing autographs for kids is amazing. You don’t sign autographs in high school or at CSN or UNLV.”
Those memories came rushing back while sitting in the stands watching his son warm up for Saturday’s game.
“I get to live it again,” Cruz said. “Being here brings everything back like it was yesterday. It was an incredible experience. These kids will never forget it.”
Cruz’s girlfriend at the time, Alise Porto, was at the tournament pregnant with Mikey.
Cruz Jr., who goes by Mikey, was at the ballfield with his parents as Cruz went on to play at the next level, wearing his dad’s batting gloves and played baseball as long as he can remember, but he didn’t come to Southern Nevada because of his dad.
“It is definitely cool, but I didn’t get an opportunity to play here because of my dad,” Mikey said. “I didn’t decide to come here because of my dad. I felt it was the best fit for me. I do want to achieve the same goal as my dad when he was here.”
Cruz Sr. has supported his son — from choosing to play baseball on his own and where he would play college baseball. Cruz Jr., a sophomore, is committed to play at UNLV next year.
“He’s been one of my number one supporters and my mom’s been one of my number one supporters throughout my whole baseball career,” Mikey said. “He just says the same thing as the coaches say, cherish every moment and make the best of it because you never know when it will be over. I’m grateful it’s not over yet.”
Nick Garritano Jr., who goes by Nicky, grew up playing baseball and always wanted to play for his dad.
“These last two years have been awesome,” Nicky said. “I’ve grown up around the field, knowing I want to play for him. Sometimes it’s hard, but at the end of the day it is a blessing.”
Nick Garritano took over the program in the fall of 2010, only six months after the Coyotes played in the 2010 JUCO World Series. Garritano, though, was the second coach hired after Tim Chambers retired in November 2010.
The coach that took over for Chambers broke recruiting rules and was put on probation for two years. That coach was let go and Garritano came in to clean up the mess. Southern Nevada lost 10 scholarships in that probation.
Six and a half years later, Garritano had the Coyotes back in the World Series and Nicky, was there for it. He was 13-years-old when they qualified in 2017.
“I remember Grand Junction being really cool and the stadium was super cool,” Nicky said. “It was a fun tournament to watch. It really was cool to see so many people in the stands. It is a lot more than what we’re used to playing in front of back home. It was a really good atmosphere too.
“I finally get to play. This is a good group. If we play our brand of baseball, we will be alright. We have good chemistry. We’ve been through just about every situation imaginable on the field.”
For Coach Garritano, coaching his son in the JUCO World Series is the highlight of his 28 years in baseball.
“He’s been a part of the program since he was a little boy,” Garritano said of his son. “He and I both have really tried to make this about the team. From day one I told him you are going to earn the respect of your teammates. He won’t be given everything. He’s treated no different than the other players.
“To know this is coming down to the last six or seven days, it’s the coolest experience I’ve ever had. It’s hard, it’s not easy, because every parent, every dad sitting in the stands today wants their kids to do as good as they can. When they struggle, they feel it too. I’m a dad too. I’ve got to be careful not to be too exuberant, but at the same time, as a coach/dad on the field, it’s a little bit of a juggling act, but I think we’ve done a good job of handling that.”
Whether the Coyotes can duplicate the success of the 2003 team or not, the father-son duos will leave Grand Junction with a memorable experience they will get to share for years to come.
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Authorities have canceled an AMBER Alert after they say a 10-month-old child taken by a non-custodial parent was found safe.
North Las Vegas Police said Thursday that Leilani Williams (aka Leilani Duke) was taken by her father, Roderick Duke.
Duke and Leilani were last seen at an apartment complex in the area of Martin L. King Boulevard and Cheyenne Avenue at 1:40 a.m.
“An AMBER Alert has been activated due to Roderick being in emotional crisis and making threats to harm himself and 10-month-old Leilani,” NLVPD said in a statement.
By 10:05 a.m., NLVPD said that Leilani was located unharmed.
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Officers took Duke into custody without further incident, and the AMBER Alert has been canceled.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom addressed Nevada Democrats who packed a Las Vegas brewery Wednesday evening for a discussion about his upbringing, his political life and efforts his state has taken to combat the Trump administration agenda.
Newsom, who has been floated as a possible White House contender for 2028, sidestepped a quip from former Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak who introduced him as the next U.S. president amid cheers from the crowd.
“I’m very grateful for your friendship, and a friendship that’s only strengthened over the course of the last year or so,” Newsom told Sisolak.
Book tour stop
The event, which served as a book tour stop for the California governor, was organized by the Nevada Democratic Party. It took place at Nevada Brew Works near Summerlin.
Nevada Assemblymember Daniele Monroe-Moreno, the state party chair running for North Las Vegas mayor, moderated the discussion.
It was part of the party’s Local Brews + National Views series that’s been bringing Democrats for similar discussions at intimate venues. Past speakers have included former President Joe Biden, Arizona U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.
Criticizing President Donald Trump, Newsom spoke about the immediate aftermath of the 2024 general election.
“We were handwringing, a lot of finger pointing, and a sense of weakness,” Newsom said. “And just incapable of dealing with this moment, this existential moment.”
He said he is taking account for what he described as his own complicity.
“This happened on my watch. This is all happening on our watch,” Newsom said. “And so I realized that I needed to be better.”
That included his advocacy to redraw California’s Congressional map after Trump called for the same in Texas, he said.
“They’re not screwing around, nor are we,” he said about Trump and his administration. “All of us.”
‘You’re giving us a voice’
Newsom spoke out against the surge of federal immigration enforcement operations in California and later Minnesota, calls from the Trump administration to nationalize elections, and cuts to government funding due to the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act.
He said that pushback against Trump’s policies, including dozens of lawsuits filed by California, were making the president retreat on some of his proposals and policies.
“You’re filling the void, you’re giving us a voice, you’re giving us courage,” he told the crowd. “For things to change, we have to change. And it’s changing.”
The Republican National Committee reacted to Newsom’s Las Vegas visit. Earlier in the day, Newsom attended a private Boulder City event.
“Democrats are selling out to the spoiled, phony rich kid governor from California for years,” RNC spokesperson Nick Poche wrote in a statement. “President Donald Trump and Republicans are delivering major tax cuts and keeping Nevadans safe, unlike Democrats.”
The national Republican Party also criticized California’s policies, and tied them back to Nevada Democrats.
Most of Newsom’s remarks weren’t specific to Nevada. He didn’t take any questions from media.
Polling shows Newsom and Vice President JD Vance leading in hypothetical races for their parties’ nomination. That includes a survey of likely Nevada voters conducted one by Emerson College Polling in November.
Contact Ricardo Torres-Cortez at rtorres@reviewjournal.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – It’s time to “free your heels” and embrace Tahoe’s winter recreation at the Nevada Nordic Freeheel Festival on March 7. Whether you’re a seasoned pro at cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, or you’re trying to get your feet wet, Saturday’s event is teeming with nature, brews, and camaraderie.
Travel North Tahoe Nevada (TNTNV) is teaming up with Nevada Nordic, Tahoe Multisport, Alibi Ale Works, UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation and other local partners in the wondrous Tahoe Meadows, providing attendees a chance to engage with outdoor recreation experts, check out free cross-country and snowshoe rentals, and more.
“We’re excited to see the Nevada Nordic Freeheel Festival enter its second year, building on last year’s strong community response. In collaboration with our local partners, this event is thoughtfully curated with residents in mind – offering free equipment for the day, expert instruction, locally crafted brews, and other experiences in a welcoming setting,” said Andy Chapman, President and CEO of Travel North Tahoe Nevada. “It’s designed to make it easy for residents to get outside, try something new, and bring people together. Events like this reflect the spirit of North Lake Tahoe and what’s possible when our community comes together.”
Along with opportunities to test out free demos and rentals, there will be live music, beer tasting and races.
Tahoe Meadows is known for its gentle trails, and is a popular spot for snowshoeing due to its flat terrain. This event, located near Chickadee Ridge, will offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
This family-friendly event is on the second to last day of the 10-day SnowFest winter festival that’s been taking place in the North Lake Tahoe area. It starts bright and early at 9 a.m. and will close out at 2 p.m.
“Nevada Nordic is thrilled to be a part of SnowFest again this year,” said Meghan Pry, Nevada Nordic Board Member. “We love sharing our passion for cross-country skiing and watching our community grow. We are proud to keep winter recreation accessible by offering free access to our 20km trail network. This is the perfect opportunity for our community to gather together and free our heels!”
For more information about the Nevada Nordic Freeheel Festival or to check out the SnowFest schedule, visit tahoesnowfest.org.
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