The North Bergen South 12-year-old All-Stars maneuvered their way through the winners’ bracket of the District 7 tournament last week, then had to wait an entire week to see what team would emerge from the losers’ side.
It forced head coach Baz Gutierrez to resort to some last-minute strategy to keep his team active and ready for the challenge of a championship game.
“We played in a three-day tournament in South Amboy,” Gutierrez said. “We actually entered three weeks prior to the District 7 tournament, because we didn’t know how it would play out. We didn’t want to give the kids too much time off. We wanted them to stay hot and doing the right things.”
The break in the District 7 tournament action played havoc with the mental psyche of the team.
“It was pretty tough not playing for so long,” said standout pitcher/shortstop Nick Francisco. “It was really nerve wracking. It was always in the back of our minds. The week made us practice a little harder and we played in those games, which helped.”
It also helped that North Bergen South won all three of the games it played in the South Amboy tournament.
“We were ready,” Gutierrez said. “The whole team was ready.”
So when West New York American, the three-time defending District 7 tournament champion, defeated Hoboken to advance out of the losers’ bracket, North Bergen South knew the challenge at hand. They had to defeat WNY American one more time and face WNY American’s ace Harold Segismundo once again.
“I think they were the best team we faced in the tournament with the best pitcher,” Gutierrez said. “It could have gone either way between Hoboken and West New York, but we thought we would see the big kid again.”
Nick Francisco was more than ready. In the first inning of the championship game, he belted a two-run homer off Segismundo, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
“I think it calmed everyone down,” Francisco said of his homer. “It got us the lead and we weren’t going to give it up. We had a lot of confidence from that point.”
The power barrage didn’t stop there. Zuriel Turcios, who hit a triple in the first inning, followed with a two-run homer of his own in the third inning. Nick Gonzalez also hit a two-run homer in the third inning, also off Segismundo, and North Bergen was rolling.
“Our hitting is good,” Gonzalez said. “We’re confident in our hitting. We are always practicing our hitting and that makes our game better.”
“The strongest part of our team is our offense,” Gutierrez said. “I’ve always believed that the more you see a pitcher, the better of a chance you have to hit him. Our kids were focused. You could see it in their faces. They knew they were going to be tested, but you could see in their faces that they were definitely pretty confident.”
The final score read North Bergen South 8, WNY American 4, giving North Bergen South its first District 7 championship since 2008.
That team went all the way to the state championships – and a strong majority of that team now comprises the North Bergen High School varsity squad.
“I know some of them,” said Gonzalez, who pitched three innings in the title game to earn the win. “I know Marco Hernandez [a left-handed pitcher on the North Bergen varsity]. It makes me proud to be able to win this championship, but to be honest, I think this team is better.”
North Bergen South has moved on to the Section 2 tournament and they won their first game Tuesday night, defeating Rutherford American, 12-6. Gutierrez is right. This team can really hit the ball.
“We have a lot of hot hitters right now,” said catcher Eddie Malpica. “We all get along very well. We enjoy playing together and being with each other. That helps a lot. We want to get to the state championship, maybe even go further than the other North Bergen team went.”
Well, they’re well on their way, needing only three more wins to get to the state championships next weekend in Pequannock.
“I’m proud of the kids,” Gutierrez said. “They deserve everything. They work hard and they listen. They let me coach them when it’s necessary. I think we’re all pretty excited about winning the tournament. After facing Segismundo twice, these kids feel that they can hit anyone. After hitting against a pitcher of his caliber, anything can happen.”
“I’m very confident in our team winning,” said Francisco, who displays his tongue while pitching.
Francisco doesn’t mind getting kidded about his tongue action.
“My Dad did it and my Grandpa and my Grandpa’s dad,” Francisco said. “When I’m focused, that’s what always happens. The tongue just comes out.”
Francisco was asked if he knew of another famous athlete who wagged his tongue when he played.
“Yeah, Michael Jordan,” Francisco said without hesitation. “I guess I’m not in bad company at all.”
He’s in the company of champions.
“We have a lot of heart,” Nick Gonzalez said. “That’s the best thing we have.”
We will have more about the North Bergen South All-Stars’ exploits in the state sectional tournament next week…
Congrats to the Union City Babe Ruth All-Stars, who captured the District 6 Babe Ruth championship last week, defeating Weehawken in the championship game…
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