Rancho Cordova Sports Hall of Fame

Ondina, an early Rancho Cordova sports pioneer, is credited with establishing youth baseball in Rancho Cordova in the mid-1960s. A talented baseball player as a youth, in the Army he was a pitcher and first baseman on various semi-pro teams in the Sacramento area before turning his focus to youth baseball for Rancho Cordova. He is a founder of the Rancho Cordova Little League, Rancho Cordova Babe Ruth Baseball and American Legion Baseball. In addition to launching the leagues, Ondina coached in them all, plus the St. John Vianney baseball teams of the late 1960s. His devotion to youth sports and success in establishing leagues which have withstood the test of time was honored with a “Citizen of the Year” award from the Knights of Columbus and will be memorialized once more in the “Heart of a Champion” category.