The Brooklyn baseball neighborhood is mourning the lack of longtime youth coach Jose Castro, whose many years of mentorship formed the generations of younger athletes.
“It’s an incalculable loss,” mentioned father or mother John Ford. “There’s actually no phrases.”
Police say Castro and his mom had been killed after a hearth tore by their Brooklyn condominium Saturday. The reason for the fireplace stays below investigation.
Over the weekend, grief poured into the Bonnie Youth Clubhouse, the place dad and mom, gamers and fellow coaches gathered to recollect a person many described as the center of the group.
For greater than 40 years, Castro devoted himself to teaching youth baseball in Brooklyn. Associates and households say his impression prolonged far past the diamond.
“He’s irreplaceable,” father or mother Juan Mercado mentioned. “You’ll be able to’t discover anyone who’s gonna give that a lot of himself to this sport and to this neighborhood.”
Jerry Katzke, athletic director of the Bonnie Youth Membership, mentioned Castro’s affect reached far past growing baseball expertise.
“Over a interval of years, he not solely developed their baseball expertise and their information of the sport, however their sense of sportsmanship and honest play,” Katzke mentioned. “He helped them by way of highschool and faculty.”
Neighbors additionally remembered Castro’s mom.
“She was my good friend for years and years,” mentioned neighbor Luisa Jimenez. “She was a beautiful lady.”
Outdoors the condominium, a rising memorial of candles, flowers and baseball memorabilia now honors each Castro and his mom.
The Bonnie Youth Membership is planning a memorial for Castro subsequent week.
