Back in 1988, a bunch of happy-go-lucky, never-say-die kids from downtown Jersey City caught the Hudson County sports spectrum’s attention by winning the New Jersey Little League championship and coming within a few innings of going to the overall Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
Ray Ruiz, who was known better for his catchy nickname of “Boo-Boo,” was a key member of the Roberto Clemente Little League team that won the District 7, the Section 2 and the state title, before moving on to Bristol, Conn. and the East Regional.
“I guess the biggest memory I have of that 1988 team is that we all came together as one,” Ruiz said. “We were all friends for a long time. We were just ready for that challenge. That team was a dominant team. I don’t know if there will ever be a team like that one. Everyone on that team did great. It was a different generation back then. We had a lot of fun together.”
That Clemente team was one win away from going to the World Series with all the glitz and glamour that comes with being on national television. It just wasn’t meant to be.
The team came home to Jersey City and received accolades and honors galore, including a special proclamation from then-Mayor Anthony Cucci and the City Council. There were parades and parties. It was a grand time for those 12 special youngsters and their coaches.
Ruiz said that the members of that special team still keep in touch with each other.
“We had a special 25th anniversary reunion [in 2013], so we were all together again for that,” Ruiz said. “We have some great memories. I think it’s because we all played together and did all the little things together, even off the field. We still try to get together every so often. It was just a special time.”
Now, 28 years later, Roberto Clemente Little League is recapturing some of that glory.
Ruiz is now the manager of the Clemente 12-year-old All-Stars who recently won the District 7 championship by defeating defending champion Washington Park, 4-0, at the Secaucus Little League complex.
The Clemente All-Stars moved on the Section 2 Tournament that was held last week at Livingston Little League’s complex.
The Clemente All-Stars lost their opening game, 5-3, to Nutley East, then defeated Teaneck Southern, 12-2, to advance to the semifinals, but fell there to Rutherford, 7-4, on a walk-off three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The loss to Rutherford eliminated Clemente from the sectionals, but it did not diminish the efforts of the youngsters who won the District 7 title for the first time since 2008 and only the fourth time in the history of the tourney.
Ironically, the 1988 team was the first Clemente team to ever earn a District 7 banner. The 2008 team was the third and that team was also managed by “Boo-Boo” Ruiz.
“I just tried to give the kids the same experience that I had,” Ruiz said. “I wanted them to realize that anyone can win it, if they just try hard and practice hard.”
Ruiz said that the current team was built on pitching and power hitting.
“We were based on pitching and hitting home runs,” Ruiz said. “We hit a lot of home runs and had a lot of pitchers. If we didn’t hit the homers, it was going to be tough for us.”
Ruiz said that the current Clemente All-Stars had six pitchers to use.
“We had six kids who could hold their own out there,” Ruiz said. “All six were good pitchers.”
The six hurlers were Pablo Santos, the team’s best pitcher and player; Jacob Ruiz, the manager’s son; Jaden Garcia, Johnny Octavio, Danny Furcual and Keenan Keller.
“I never had a problem using any of those kids pitching,” said Ruiz, who went on to become a standout player at St. Mary’s of Jersey City and later Ferris.
Marcus Monroe was the team’s first baseman and cleanup hitter who hit three homers during the post-season tournaments.
The manager’s son was the second baseman and No. 2 hitter in the batting order who led the team in hits.
Santos was the shortstop and No. 3 hitter, with Octavio at third base. Chris Gonzalez was the catcher.
In the outfield, Furcual, Keller and Jonathan Carrera went left to right. The reserves include outfielder Miles Thobully, outfielder Miguel Freese, utility player Randy Monnero, catcher Luis Santiago and first baseman Nelson Estremera, Jr., the son of the Clemente Little League president Nelson, Sr. and nephew of Norberto “Pito” Estremera, who was the star player on the 1988 team.
“The kids represented themselves well,” Ruiz said. “I loved it. It was everything a father could ask for. I think I have two more years of coaching in me. A pitch here and there and we might have gone to the states. We’ll see what happens next year. Washington Park had a real good team and they should be good again next year.”
But it was Clemente Little League’s year to raise the banner.
Washington Park was a valiant champion and fought to the very end to make sure Roberto Clemente earned that District 7 banner.
Washington Park head coach Lou Collazo said that there were a handful of solid players on the Washington Park roster, guys like Devin Gomez, the pitcher/second baseman who was the Most Valuable Player in last year’s District 7 champ.
Collazo also credited Juan De La Cruz, a pitcher/shortstop who hit a two-run homer in the semifinals against Clemente; Quincy Mitchell, a pitcher/first baseman who pitched a shutout against Clemente and also hit a homer in that game; Deangelo Ponce, a catcher who was the team’s leadoff batter; and Bhuvan Bugude, a pitcher/first baseman.
The good news is that Ponce and De La Cruz are only 11 years old, so they will return next year, thus the reason why Ruiz mentioned that Washington Park will be a tough team again in 2017.
All in all, it was a great tournament, spearheaded once again by district administrator Carmine Conti, who did an outstanding job coordinating the players, coaches and umpires throughout the month-long tournament.
There are other District 7 tourneys in the younger ages and in softball still going. We will feature those in the coming weeks.
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.