For Immediate Release
Winning Bronx Baseball Team Heads to Washington DC for National Regional Championship
Former Pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals With His Own Winning Record Leads Local Dynamite Team of 15-16 Year-Olds
Bronx, NY (June 23, 2003) – The Mount Hope Housing Rudy Baseball Academy is sending its winning team of 15- and 16-year old boys off tomorrow to play for the Junior Pony League’s National Regional Championship in the Washington, DC area. The first game will be played on Friday, July 25th.
Their coach, Hector Eduardo Thomas, once played professionally as a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals and went on to play in the 1968 World Series. He has been coaching the team for 14 years, since he and Rudy Clase, a third baseman for the California Angels during the eighties, devoted their considerable talents to starting The Mount Hope Housing Rudy Baseball Academy. Both retired players boast sons on the team: Roger Thomas plays shortstop and Geneby Clase, like father, plays third base. The boys have been on the team since they were 4 years old. The Mount Hope Housing Ruby Academy coaches young boys in baseball, ranging in age from five to sixteen years old. Having sponsored the team for 14 years as part of its community development program, Mount Hope Housing Company is underwriting the team’s trip to Washington, DC to give the talented young players the chance they deserve to win the title.
“Our team has a league team record of winning 75 straight games with zero losses over three years,” says Coach Thomas proudly.
Coach Thomas, a building superintendent for Mount Hope Housing Co., has been coaching baseball for 25 years. He has already seen six boys from his teams make it to the baseball majors: Roberto Hernandez of the Atlanta Braves, Manny Ramirez of the Boston Red Sox, Alex Arias of the San Francisco Giants, Jose Contreras of the Colorado Rockies (not to be confused with the NY’s Jose Contreras) and Pedro Borbon and Luis Lopez of the Toronto Blue Jays. Seven of his boys now play in the minor leagues, including Emmanuel de Paula, a former team member whom the Mets just recently signed. Major leagues are currently eyeing a promising young player, Pedro Alvarez, 16 years old, a gifted third baseman now on the team.
The Bronx-based kids have struggled through the years to find the time and place to practice, training in school gyms during the winter, and even jumping over tires in their coach’s basement. Coach Thomas also insists on good grades – at least an 80 average – in order to play on his winning team.
“If we win in Washington, then we go on to play the World Series in Jamestown, NY, representing the U.S. We will be facing international competition and ESPN will televise the game,” says Jose Bautista, the team captain whose father of the same name won the World Series in 1986 as a pitcher with the Mets.
The team will be posing for photos with Council member Maria Baez and Assembly members Michael Benjamin and Luis Diaz today at 10:00 AM at Mount Hope Housing Co., Inc., at the 2001 Morris Avenue office (entrance on 179th St.). The team will also have a send-off celebration at 2042 Morris Ave. at 6:30 AM on Thursday, July 24th, before leaving by van for Washington DC.
About Mt. Hope Housing Co., Inc:
Mount Hope Housing Company was founded in 1986 in response to the deterioration of the Mount Hope community of the Bronx. A community development company, Mount Hope provides affordable housing, as well as youth services, employment services, financial programs, job training and life skill programs.
Media contact:
Lynn Honeysett
Phone: 914.576.7747
Cell: 914.548.9652
Zuleika De Jesus (Mount Hope Housing)
Phone: 718.299.7175, Ext. 10