By Mitch Chortkoff

Major Leaguers Express Sorrow Over Layana Death

Wednesday, July 7---There were 800 people at the Celebration of Life for Tim Layana Thursday at Loyola Marymount University.

Some were major league baseball players who received permission from their teams to take a day off. Hal Morris, a former teammate of Layana on the Cincinnati Reds, flew here to lend his support to the family.

Layana, who was killed in an automobile accident a week ago in Bakersfield, had a 5-5 record in 78 games as a major league reliever in 1990, '91 and '93. Last season he was head coach of the St. Monica High baseball team.

``Baseball is a family and the loss of a family member is always painful,'' said ex-Dodger outfielder Eric Davis, now of the St. Louis Cardinals. ``Tim was a world champion as a ballplayer and a human being.''

Davis and Layana were also teammates on the Reds.
Randy Velarde, Angels second baseman, recalled his years with Layana in the New York Yankees farm system.
``He kept to himself but if you ever needed him he was there,'' said Velarde. ``I think the best way to describe him is he had a big heart.''

A lot of youngsters play ball in the local area but few ever achieve what Layana did. He led Loyola Marymount into the College World Series. Then he received a full share as a member of the 1990 champion Reds. He was left off the World Series roster but his 5-3 record during the season helped the team advance.

``He helped us win a world championship,'' recalls Manager Lou Piniella, now of the Seattle Mariners. ``No doubt he had a hand in it.

``Tim had average major league stuff but he had a big heart. He made the absolute most of his talent. I was very saddened to hear he's gone. I feel very badly for his family.''
Layana leaves his wife of three years, Tracey, and 10-month-old daughter Carley. In lieu of flowers it is being asked that contributions be made to a memorial fund at PO Box 2623, Culver City, Ca. 90230.

Three passengers in Layana's Chevy Blazer were treated and released from hospitals in the Bakersfield area. The driver and passenger of the other car, were not injured, according to the Associated Press. One of Tim Layana's passengers was Michael Layana, his older brother.

The Associated Press reported that Layana was on eastbound Highway 178 and was turning left onto a side road when a Mercedes also heading east was passing slower traffic and broadsided Layana's car. The Blazer flipped and Layana was ejected.

``Tim was a great competitor, teammate and friend,'' said Long Beach State baseball coach Dave Snow, who was Layana's coach at Loyola. ``If you could coach guys like him every day it would be the epitome of coaching.
``The coach's dream would be to have nine Tim Layanas in the lineup.''

St. Monica will soon begin a search for its third baseball coach in three years. Layana was hired after Ernie Soto gave up the job.

Soto's team went 14-8 and Layana's team went the furthest of any Westside team in this season's playoffs, eventually losing in the CIF quarterfinals. Ironically, Layana's last game was on the field of his college stardom.

St. Monica played that quarterfinal game against Calvary Chapel of Santa Ana at Loyola.