South Padadena’s Clavich Field was mostly silent Wednesday night, April 5, even as close to 1,000 people gathered to remember a 13-year-old Little League player killed by a Metro Gold Line train Sunday night.
Trent Tozer, a seventh-grader at South Pasadena Middle School, died after he was struck by a westbound Gold Line train near the railroad crossing intersection at Arroyo Verde Road.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the death.
Families from South Pasadena Little League and South Pasadena Middle School brought flowers and candles to a memorial at the field’s backstop.
Parents held their children’s hands and exchanged embraces. Trent’s teammates formed a circle and sat quietly, the silence sometimes punctuated by the sound of a child sobbing.
Trent’s father, Richard, who is on the Little League board, made a brief appearance, thanking the attendees for their overwhelming support..
Mourners included Trent’s middle school principal, teachers, members of the South Pasadena City Council and city police and firefighters.
“Do what you can do to make the world a better place,” Tozer said, “and that’s how we remember Trent.”
Tozer also said his son surely had something to do with his younger brother Liam’s winning run and closing pitch at his game Tuesday.
Alberto Ocon, president of the South Pasadena Little League, said the family wanted to make sure games continued even after the tragedy.
“We lost a young man too early in life so we are here to support the family,” he said. “This is why we live in this community, because of all the love and support.”
The league, which serves about 800 children from preschool to high school, is planning ways to honor Trent and offer support to its players, Ocon said.
Matt Nagel, 13, of South Pasadena, played baseball with Trent and went to the same school as the middle infielder and outfielder.
“I was on his team, the Rangers,” Matt said. “We were just texting…
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