Joe Brown has been a veteran of coaching in the Weehawken Bambino Baseball League, now known as the Cal Ripken, Jr. Baseball League (ages 10 through 12), for more than a decade.
For a while, Brown was an assistant coach with the Walden’s Raiders, one of the more successful teams in the league, but five years ago, Brown was given the opportunity to get his own head coaching position, his own team.
There was only one problem. The position was leading the Weehawken Elks team, which has been a perennial doormat of the league. For 15 straight years, the Elks fielded a team, but the successes were limited.
"They were the ‘Bad News Bears,’" Brown said, referring to the baseball movie starring Walter Matthau and Tatum O’Neal that featured a Little League team that did everything wrong. "They couldn’t win anything."
The Weehawken Elks was the town’s version of the Washington Senators, who were once dubbed, "First in war, first in peace and last in the American League."
However, Brown didn’t flinch when given the chance to work with the Elks.
"I figured there was a way that I could get things going," Brown said. "This team was in last place so many times. They always came in last place. I figured the luck had to change."
Two years ago, the Elks made a dramatic improvement, finishing in third place. Not exactly enough to throw a parade down Boulevard East, but better times nonetheless.
A year ago, the Weehawken Elks made even more improvement, finishing in second place and earning a berth in the league championship playoffs, in which they captured the season-ending tournament, winning a trophy for their efforts.
"The kids really worked hard and they listened," Brown said. "They learned a lot and came out ready to play."
However, the Elks graduated six players from that inspiring team. They gained five newcomers in the draft, but Brown had no idea what the 2002 season would hold.
"I didn’t know what to expect," Brown said. "We had a lot of new kids, so we had to do some serious drilling with them to get them ready for the season."
But Brown realized that the new kids were beginning to catch on. Not to mention, they were winning.
"They really surprised me," Brown said. "They hung in there each game and just kept winning."
The results were startling. The Elks won 10 games and lost only four. But more importantly, they managed to capture the Ripken League regular season championship.
Championship jackets
Yes, the kids from the Weehawken Elks will be wearing championship jackets this winter. No one could have ever believed that.
"I’m definitely very proud of them," Brown said. "After the first couple of games, I thought it was possible. I thought they had potential."
The Elks were blessed with a talented pitching staff, with Jack Montanile, Andrew Phillips, Jack Nieto and Christina Ruiz handling the pitching duties.
Wait a minute. Was that a misprint? Christina Ruiz.
There’s no mistake there. Christina is a girl who more than holds her own with and against the boys.
"She throws the ball good and throws strikes," Brown said. "She’s not afraid."
Nor are the Elks’ other two female performers, namely outfielder Grace Hache and reserve utility player Stacy Light.
"It is pretty impressive that we have three girls," Brown said. "And all three of them can play. In fact, they’re my best players. Christina keeps getting better and better, because she’s only 11 years old."
It’s only fitting that in a year where the Weehawken Elks officially crowned its first female Exalted Ruler that the baseball team they sponsor also features three girls. Chalk one up for women’s lib.
And it’s equally as fitting that in a year when the Weehawken Elks, which was nearly destroyed by a nasty flood a year ago, is ready to rise from the ashes, the downtrodden baseball team rises up to capture a championship.
Preliminary plans have been introduced, introducing a massive renovation and reconstruction to the lodge on Boulevard East.
But this moment is for the kids, who have earned their league championship.
Other players include third baseman Jared Grimes, outfielders Tim Hill and Wander Torres, catcher Hector Sosa and reserves Richard Turner, Moses Sosa and Joseph Annese.
"The kids are absolutely loving it," said Brown, who was assisted by Joseph Brown, Fred Vant, Dotty Vant and Mike Benoit as coaches. "I’m still hoarse from screaming at the games."
A championship truly earned – and many years in the making. Sometimes, even the underdog can become champion.
Pictured in photo above – Team members: Jack Montanile, Andrew Phillips, Jack Nieto, Christina Ruiz, Grace Hache, Jared Grimes, Hector Sosa, Joseph Annese, Timothy Hill, Stacy Light, Richard Turner, Moses Sosa and Wander Torres. The coaching staff is Joe Brown, assisted by Joseph Brown, Fred Vant, Dotty Vant and Mike Benoit. The Bat boy is Lundon Ward.