April 18, 2001

The San Diego Padres will reach out to students and staff from Santana and Granite Hills high schools by honoring them with a ceremony and free tickets to tonight's game.

After last month's shootings at the two schools, the team offered two free tickets to each student and staff member for tonight's game against the Colorado Rockies. Padres officials hope the game will help renew spirits and show community support for the schools.

Thousands from the two Grossmont Union district schools are expected to attend.

During a brief pre-game ceremony, the students and staff wounded in the shootings, along with the law enforcement officers, County Supervisor Dianne Jacob and school staff most involved in the tragedies will stand by home plate, along with Mari Gordon-Rayborn, the mother of Randy Gordon, one of the two students killed at Santana. The hundreds of other staff members attending will stand in the outfield.

Santana Principal Karen Degischer and Granite Hills Principal Georgette Torres will throw out ceremonial pitches, and Granger Ward, superintendent of the Grossmont district, will yell, "Play ball."