Hola! Puerto Rico: Team returns with confidence
The Daily Times, by Cornelia de Bruin cdebruin@daily-times.com
08/02/2008

FARMINGTON (New Mexico)— Llaneros de Toa Baja is back at the Connie Mack World Series at Ricketts Park with the confidence they didn't have last year, says Carlos Hernández.

Hernández pitches for the team. "We came last year, but this is different," said Hernández, 18. "We were kind of younger, and when we played the other team we thought we would not win."

Stats proved that to be true: the team was 0-2 last year.

But this year, Hernández said Llaneros is "just ready to win." "We have a different mentality," he said.

Perhaps the team can recoup this year even after its first loss against the Connecticut Bombers. Saturday's contest ended early because of the mercy rule, as the Bombers won 11-2 in five innings, sending Llaneros into the loser's bracket with an 0-1 record.

Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States located east of Haiti and the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean, was home to Roberto Clemente Walker — the first of its citizens to play professional baseball in the United States.

Baseball is the national game of Puerto Rico. Unlike in the United States, baseball eclipses football and basketball in both participation and admiration.

Because of the sport's high place in Puerto Rican culture, Clemente's rise to the Montreal Royals and the Pittsburgh Pirates makes him iconic to the young Puerto Rican players.

When asked whether he felt like he was following in Clemente's footsteps by coming to the Connie Mack World Series, 3rd baseman Nathanael Kellar quietly answered, "We can try, we can do our best, but we could never get there. Roberto changed everything," Kellar said. "We can try, but we will fall short."

Kellar plays first and third base. He played third Saturday against Connecticut.

The Bombers are new to the series, but their coach, Joe Rietano, has a sense of what to tell the team to expect since he played in the 1972 Connie Mack World Series.

Nearly all of Llaneros' players who played last year are back this summer. Seven of them are college students. Kellar, Luis Ortíz, Nelson Espinal, Héctor Ponce, Áxel Rodríguez, Abel Robles and Jaime Matos all lived stateside while they attended various schools.

"We are really focused this year," said head coach Ángel Herrera. "The players are grateful for the support they received last year, and now they feel they owe something to the people who supported them."

Herrera said the mechanics of the game in Puerto Rico and at the World Series are the same, but, "Here, people are working to be a pro baseball player or go to college."

"When they're there (Puerto Rico), they just play for playing," he said. "Everybody said this is the best World Series."

Following its participation in Farmington, Llaneros' next game is against the Puerto Rican Olympic team.

Life will take a much different turn for pitcher Hernández. When he gets home Aug. 27, he will join the U.S. Navy. Hernández signed on for an 8-year stint in the armed forces.

Llaneros has played baseball in Puerto Rico for 30 years, according to the team's director, Carlos Machuco.

Machuco, whom the players and other officials refer to as "The Chief," has worked with Llaneros for one year, so far.
http://www.daily-times.com/news/ci_10082256

About the Connie Mack World Series:
The American Amateur Baseball Congress is the sponsoring organization of the Connie Mack World Series. The A.A.B.C. provides activities for youth and young adult baseball players through seven league divisions in the United States and Puerto Rico. Connie Mack regular season play allows players ages 16 to 18 to participate.

These youth baseball series take place at the Ricketts Park, in Farmington, New Mexico.

Recipient of the Beam Clay National Baseball Diamond of the Year Award for 1987 and the 1992 Diamond Dry Groundskeeper of the Year Award, sponsored in conjunction with the National High School Baseball Coaches Association, Ricketts Park was developed by volunteer efforts and community donations. Continued improvements to Ricketts Park are funded with proceeds from the Connie Mack World Series.

Operated by the City of Farmington year-round, the seating capacity at this top-ranked baseball field is over 6,100. Dimensions of Ricketts field - RF-330, RCF-370, CF-400, LCF-370, and LF-330.

PARK AND RIDE: The City of Farmington will provide a shuttle service from the parking lots of the Farmington Boys and Girls Club and the Farmington Library from 4:00 pm until 30 minutes after the last game each evening.
For more info, go to www.fmtn.org/conniemack/