Connie Connors, president of the Malibu Little League, presided over the inaugural Hall of Fame inductions June 4 at Malibu Bluffs Park. It was a part of the closing ceremonies for the 2011 Little League regular season.
The honored and distinct group included the late Michael K. Zweig, Steve Ciniglio, Doug O’Brien and John Paola. Connors went to the Little League Board of Directors earlier this year requesting the formation of the Malibu Little League Hall of Fame.
“I wanted to institute a way to honor those who have for years inspired, led, coached and provided love of the game and respect for one another,” Connors said. “Thus we now have the Malibu Little League Hall of Fame.”
Connors and Kathy Haag presented Zweig’s plaque to him on March 16 as the first inductee before his death from cancer on March 21 at the age of 58.
“He was so thrilled,” Connors said. “He could barely speak and quipped, ‘Maybe Nolan Ryan will come to my induction into the Hall of Fame.’ That’s who he was, selfless, funny and kind.”
Zweig supported the Malibu Little League for more than 17 years, serving as president, softball commissioner and a coach and manager. He coached more than 25 softball teams from Malibu T-Ball, Malibu Little League and Malibu High School.
“He was a respected, revered and beloved softball coach whose inspiring dedication, teamwork, respect and fun helped each and every player realize her potential while learning and laughing,” Connors said to the large crowd in attendance at the park..
His assistance, along with Connors as team manager, and Coach John Haag, helped the 2005-06 and 2006-07 “dream team” of Malibu Junior Softball (ages 13-15) win the Tournament of Champions for District 25. It was the first back-to-back feat in the 50-year history of the Malibu Little League.
“Michael Zweig epitomizes the spirit and heart of a great humanitarian and the Malibu Little League motto, ‘Courage, Character and Loyalty,’” Connors said. “He was pure greatness. He taught and lived by the highest standards not just on the field but in life, inspiring laughter, respect and love.”
Zweig’s wife Marie and their daughters Casey, Megan and Sarah were present at the closing ceremony at Bluffs Park to accept his induction into the Hall of Fame.
Ciniglio started his association with the Little League in 2000, coaching his first team that same year. He has managed 10 teams during that period, including three minor, four middle and three majors teams.
In 2004, Ciniglio earned a trip to the Tournament of Champions with his team. He also managed five different all-star teams and put together a squad that went to Cooperstown, N.Y. to compete in the 75-team tournament in 2005.
Ciniglio has been the league’s hardball commissioner, vice-president, umpire chair, coaching coordinator and president for two different terms in 2004-2005 and again in 2008-2009.
He was influential in the $100,000 Fields Improvement Project that was approved by the City of Malibu for all of Bluffs Park in 2005. This included new infields on the baseball diamonds and the soccer area being completely resodded.
Ciniglio was also instrumental in helping acquire a major grant for Malibu Little League in 2005. He spearheaded the purchase and installation of both the electronic scoreboards on the diamonds and the construction of the score booths behind home plate on both fields.
He helps run youth baseball camps during the summer and last week his Dodgers won the Little League Middle division championship (ages 9-10).
O’Brien first began coaching for the league in the 1972-73 season when the fields were located at Malibu Lagoon (now the big parking lot). He was instrumental in challenging the state attorney general who wanted to bulldoze those fields. O’Brien helped facilitate the league’s move to Bluffs Park in 1980 and helped assure that the park became a permanent home for the league. Two baseball fields and one football field (now the soccer field) were created for $30,000 and donated labor.
He joined the Malibu Lion’s Club in 1980, which founded the Malibu Little League in 1955, and, due to O’Brien’s involvement, the club continues to sponsor the league.
Paola is an active member of the Malibu Kiwanis Club and has been helping Malibu Little League by running the Snack Shack since 1998.
When league season ends, Paola can be seen down at the shopping center selling raffle tickets for the annual Chili Cook-Off and again up at the high school boosters Christmas tree lot.
“The longstanding volunteer efforts on behalf of our Malibu Little League community is without measure. These Hall of Famers have collectively had 65 years of positive impact on all of us,” Connors said during the induction. “To spearheading the acquisition, development of our fields and overseeing the much-needed place for kids to gather whether to play ball, eat a hot dog, play with friends, or just have fun while learning life lessons; softball and baseball provides every child and their families an experience that will stay with them for life.”