Counsel from dad helping Boys’ Latin Charter’s Ortiz

IT'S NOT OFTEN that a famous ex-politician attends a Public League baseball game.

Check that. At least one guy is a constant.

"Sometimes I wish he could miss a game, just to see how things would go," Omar Ortiz said, smiling. "I'll tell him, 'You really don't have to come today. You should enjoy your free time. Go have fun. Do something else.' But he's always here. Never misses a game."

Omar Ortiz, a 5-7, 195-pound sophomore who's mostly called "Papi" by family members, is already the diamond franchise at Boys' Latin Charter. His dad is Angel Ortiz, the ol' city councilman who now dabbles in consulting.

As yesterday's Division D contest between BL and A. Philip Randolph, played at 63rd and Spruce, got started, it wasn't too hard to spot Angel Ortiz among the spectators. That word barely needs to be plural.

Later, the non-crowd tripled in size from two to six. Unfortunately, the game didn't get three times better.

BL frolicked, 12-0, in five innings. Double O, a righthander who bats lefty, went the distance, allowing three singles and one walk while striking out seven. In the three hole, he went 2-for-3 with a walk, one RBI and two runs scored.

Standing or camped out in a lawn chair right near the cage throughout - it's not safe anywhere else; no restraining fences - Angel Ortiz often checked his cell phone and yelled occasional words of encouragement/instruction. (Maybe he'll tell the recreation department that the field had no baselines.)

Turns out, he's not flying baseball blind. Dad said he played shortstop for a Seward Park High team that advanced to a New York City championship game in 1960.

"Seven Puerto Ricans and two Jewish guys," he offered.

"My dad is always telling me stories about his baseball days. He tells me he was pretty good," Omar said.

Does son believe the hype?

"Yeah, I actually do," he said. "One of his high school friends told me he was a great ballplayer in high school and college. My dad says they called him 'The Vacuum Cleaner.' He doesn't have any newspaper clippings, but he does have one nice picture fielding a ground ball.

"My dad is always encouraging me. His big thing now is that he wants me to get in better baseball shape. Do more running. I'm trying."

Ortiz owned a no-hitter through 3 2/3 innings, at which point Markee Griffin fired a ground ball through the left-side hole. Randolph's other hits came after he was one strike away from ending the game. Pinch-hitter Malik Crawford also grounded a single to left and Dajuane Timpson followed with a floater that found fair territory down the leftfield line.

With the count full vs. Crawford, Ortiz admitted serving up a fat one.

"I hate walks," he said. "I just wanted to make sure it was a strike. I left it over the plate."

He added, "I'm mostly a fastball-changeup guy. And my changeup has a pretty good drop. I always try to stay calm and keep my composure out there. Just lead my team to wins."

When not pitching, Ortiz splits time between third base and catcher. He has been rockin' the ball all spring.

"Watching my son is always nerve-wracking, especially when he starts playing around with the hitters," Angel Ortiz said. "Shut 'em down. That's what I want. When you've got 'em down, shut 'em down . . . As a hitter, he's hugely much better than I was."

Ortiz and catcher Jordie Ortiz (no relation) delivered RBI singles in the first. As the Warriors plated four runs apiece in the second and third, the highlights were two-run homers by the Davenport brothers, freshman shortstop Brandon (left-center) and sophomore second baseman Bryan (dead left; into the trees).

No. 3 starter Manny Duran took the loss for Randolph, which started a lefthanded catcher, Derrick Gregory, due to another player's injury and even subbed a lefty, Tarik Drew, at third base.

Freshman righthander Justo Rodriguez, who earlier this season recorded 21 strikeouts (there were 22 total outs) in a no-hitter, began the game at third base. He relieved in the third inning, but lasted just one batter (walk) before begging out due to a tender shoulder.

Kevin Butler, who plays quarterback for Murrell Dobbins Tech, worked the final 1 2/3 innings. He allowed no hits and fanned five, but walked five and drilled one while allowing two runs. His earlier highlight was a 14-strikeout, five-inning no-hitter (with six free passes) against the same opponent Rodriguez victimized, University City.

Ortiz, who lives in Northern Liberties, said he opted to attend BL, in West Philly, because his father is good friends with the school's CEO, David Hardy.

The school does not yet have seniors and the baseball squad includes just two juniors, pitcher-third baseman Kyle Davis and sub Devaughn Glover.

"I like how things are going," Omar Ortiz said. "This team's more dedicated than last year."

And dad is going nowhere.

"Any time I tell him he can skip a game, he says to me, 'No. I'm going,' " Omar said, laughing. "He loves watching baseball. And seeing me play."

And, deep down, son loves dad's support, right?

He flashed a sheepish grin. "I actually do."