For many years, Ben “Popo” Sierra was a dedicated youth baseball coach, watching and monitoring the progress of hundreds of boys, including his own son, Ben, Jr., who developed into a fine high school player at Dickinson High School and later Bloomfield College.
“He had a great run,” Sierra said of his son, who has since stopped playing competitive baseball.
But behind Ben, Jr. in the Sierra household was a blossoming talent called Jaylene. And the younger Sierra wanted the same kind of instruction and guidance that her father provided for her brother.
“She basically said, ‘You did it for him, so you have to do it for me,’” Sierra said of his daughter.
With that, good old “Popo” became a softball coach.
“It’s really not the same thing,” Sierra said of coaching softball as opposed to baseball. “It’s strangely different.”
But Sierra took on the challenges of coaching softball with the same Roberto Clemente Little League organization that he worked with in the past. Now Sierra was working with Jersey City young ladies instead of young men.
In softball, the rules are basically the same, but there are definitely strategic differences. For example, bunting is a key component of the game of fast pitch softball. So is slap hitting and moving runners along.
Sierra had to modify his coaching expertise just a tad. But he was ready for the challenge when Jaylene Sierra became ready to pitch her first competitive game.
“She’s been naturally pitching since she was five years old,” Sierra said.
Jaylene Sierra is now 14 years old. She attends County Prep in Jersey City, but plays for the Ferris High School softball team.
“She’s really smart,” Sierra said. “She never gets rattled. She has the same mentality with every batter. She’s also very confident. She has a way of performing and never showing the opponents that she’s nervous.”
The younger Sierra is also a talented pitcher and she has been able to lead the Roberto Clemente Junior Little League All-Stars (ages 13 and 14) to the District 7 and Section 2 championships and a berth in the New Jersey state tournament this week in Morris Plains.
Unfortunately, Roberto Clemente lost their first game in the state tourney to Ridgewood and now has to battle back in the loser’s bracket, but it’s still been a great run to earn district and section championships.
“A lot of these girls have been playing together since they were nine years old, so they’ve practically grown up together,” Sierra said. “My wife [Jacqueline] and I have coached them all the way up.”
His wife is involved as well?
“She’s very competitive,” Sierra said of Jacqueline. “She’s tough.”
Sierra likes the makeup of his team.
“They really play well together because they all know each other so well,” Sierra said.
Maria Montes is the catcher for Jaylene Sierra.
“Maria is a good defensive catcher who plays really well behind the plate,” Sierra said. “She’s very comfortable with Jaylene.”
Alyssa Ruiz is the team’s slugging first baseman.
“She’s got a good stick,” Sierra said of Ruiz, who drove in three runs in the team’s clutch win over Teaneck to win the Section 2 banner.
The second baseman is Jazzlyn Collazo.
“She’s a good fielder, but she’s also a good bunter,” Sierra said of Collazo, who also serves as the team’s backup catcher.
Mariah Villanueva is the team’s slick fielding shortstop.
“Not only is she a great fielder, but she’s also a power hitter,” Sierra said.
Arianna Herrera is the third baseman. She’s also the team’s cleanup hitter, so she possesses a lot of pop in her bat.
Kayla Reyes is the starter in left field. She’s another quality bunter with good speed.
Centerfielder Samantha Eatman, the daughter of local coach Paul Eatman, comes from a great athletic family. Her older brother, Paul, Jr., was a standout football player at Hudson Catholic and just graduated from Morgan State, where he also starred in football.
“Samantha has been hitting well for us,” Sierra said. “She’s a good defensive centerfielder who can cover a lot of ground in the outfield.”
Meredith Moore is the right fielder who delivered some clutch power hits in the Section 2 tournament.
“When she hits the ball, it goes far,” Sierra said.
Yaritza Amaya also plays left field for the team, while Candida Rodriguez sees time at first base and Jadalyn Robles gets some action in right field.
Sierra is assisted by Felix Montes and Wilbur Amaya as coaches.
Needless to say, Sierra is enjoying coaching the girls.
“It’s been an unbelievable ride,” Sierra said. “I think the girls knew they had a chance to do it and knew what was at stake. They were looking forward to the challenge and they accomplished it. It feels real good to give these girls a chance. It’s more than just sports. Having this keeps them out of trouble and gives them something to focus on. That’s the No. 1 priority. It’s always good to give them something to achieve.”
EXTRA INNINGS focuses on the best stories that come from local baseball and softball leagues throughout the area, from Little League action through travel leagues.
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Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.