High School Baseball Game Honoring Livermore's Wounded Warriors

The significance of the Livermore High-Granada High baseball game this Wednesday is far more important than your average East Bay Athletic League game.

The game is an opportunity for the community to say thanks for the service and sacrifice of two of Livermore's wounded veterans. Before the game, the Livermore baseball teams will honor Marine Staff Sgt. Jason Ross and Army Sgt. Cristian Valle at Granada High School at 3 p.m.

For Ross, it won't just be a chance for the community to show their appreciation for his sacrifice, but also a chance to welcome him home.

Ross was seriously injured and lost his legs when stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device while on patrol in Afghanistan on March 7, 2011.

Since, he has been recovering, first at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and more recently in San Diego. 

He returned to his hometown of Livermore for the first time on Sunday, escorted by about 50 Warrior Watch Riders from the San Francisco Airport. (You can read more about Ross' trip home and his fight to recover on the Ross family blog here.)

Ross will also receive a check for $14,000 from the Carl’s Jr. Stars for Heroes program and an additional $6,000 from the Livermore Veterans Foundation, according to Carl's Jr.

Joining Ross at the baseball game will be Valle, lost a leg in October 2005 when he had a bomb thrown at him from a speeding vehicle in Iraq.

Valle, born in Mexico, was not an American citizen when he went to Iraq, but has since earned his American citizenship and is living in Livermore with his wife Blanca and three children. He now works at Lawrence Livermore National Labatories.

At the ceremony Wednesday, a flagpole will be dedicated at 3 p.m. and Ross and Valle will throw the first pitch before the game at 4 p.m.

Carl's Jr. is selling $1 hamburgers before and during the game and all the proceeds from the day will go to benefit Livermore's Wounded Warriors.

The homecoming for Ross will continue on Saturday at 3 p.m., when Warrior Watch Riders will escort Ross and his family to Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall. The community is invited and to encourage to bring flags and enjoy the potluck-style food.