Family, fans mourn for Dominican pitcher Yordano Ventura (Yahoo Sports)

Dozens of children wearing blue T-shirts with the name ''Ventura'' emblazoned on the back gathered around a coastal home on Monday to pay their respects to their idol: Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura. ''He was an inspiration to every kid,'' Santos told The Associated Press, recalling how Ventura took time to meet with members of the Kelly youth team that he once played for and gave them gifts, including uniform T-shirts. The children talked quietly among themselves as they sat in the patio of the house Ventura bought after signing with the Royals.