One of them, Kenneth Hawkins, 16, said he was aiming to make it to the major leagues. Asked how he would pursue that goal, he said, "Work hard, stay hungry, listen to my coaches, keep my grades up -- and avoid hanging out with the wrong crowd."

Maury Wills, the Los Angeles Dodgers great of the 1960s and a Cardoza alumnus, began sponsoring a player clinic in Washington in April 2003 with donations going toward his alma mater's programme.

Said Hawkins: "Some people give us money but he showed us he cared by being here. That was more important."