Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 21 augusT 2018

Puerto Rico team that endured hurricane makes LLWS run

By PATRICK BURNS the determined group of
Associated Press 11- and 12-year-olds kept
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. showing up, and almost a
(AP) — After a five-inning, year later, they’re the first
14 strikeout, no-hit perfor- team in Radames Lopez Lit-
mance, Roberto Joubert tle League’s rich history to
stepped off the mound make it to the Little League
and made his way toward World Series.
the Puerto Rico dugout. “I learned don’t stop, just
An emphatic roar filled go ahead,” Delgado said
Volunteer Stadium, as min- through an interpreter. “Ev-
iature Puerto Rican flags ery time.”
waved in tandem with fat- The team has lost just twice
heads of each player. The this summer and went un-
Puerto Rico faithful con- defeated throughout the
sisted of no more than 60 or Caribbean Regional, scor-
70 people, yet their passion ing 51 runs in the process.
could be felt throughout They will face another win-
the 3,000-seat ballpark. or-you’re-out game on
At the front of the crowd Tuesday, and still have to
was Pedro Ortiz, whose son string together three vic-
Devin is a reserve outfielder. tories to get to the tourna-
Ortiz has watched this Ra- ment final Sunday.
dames Lopez Little League Lopez said he isn’t ready for
team from Guayama win Puerto Rico’s Eric Rodriguez, second from left, is greeted at home plate by his teammates Luis A. it all to end, at least not yet.
championships together at Rivera, left, Yadiel Delgado and Carlos De Jesus after his home run against Australia in the fourth “I love to be here,” he said
every age level since they inning of an elimination baseball game in International pool play at the Little League World Series through an interpreter. “I’m
were 5, and on Monday tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018. really comfortable here
he saw another happy mo- Associated Press and if it’s up to me, I want
ment, a 3-1 win over Pana- followed, the Ortiz family and other necessities, the functioning power grid and to stay here.”
ma in an elimination game. didn’t have a place to call Little Leaguers dedicated traveling through debris He’s not the only one in-
But even he struggled home. Star catcher John themselves to whipping proved to be difficult, and vested in the team.
to picture this scene 11 Lopez had to scramble their local baseball dia- once the players arrived at In the midst of a breakout
months ago. to rebuild his family’s frit- monds into shape. practice, they had to cope season, Minnesota Twins
“It’s been a really really re- ter business. Because the By mid-October, they were with fields that were in any- outfielder Eddie Rosario
ally tough year,” Ortiz said. island’s entire power grid finally ready, and a mo- thing but pristine condition. has followed the story of
“For us to be here after was knocked out, pitcher mentary distraction had ar- To make matters worse, his former league diligently.
Hurricane Maria, we re- Yadiel Delgado couldn’t rived. they could only play during The Guayama native video
ally didn’t know whether or contact his father in Florida “The first goal was to bring the day — which is gener- chats with coaches and
not we were going to play for weeks. some recreation to the kids, ally avoided in the hot Ca- players on a near-daily ba-
baseball.” For nearly a month, Guaya- not to think about what ribbean climate — and sis, and was on hand when
Last September, Hurricane ma was forced to come to happened at their houses,” had to share the fields with Major League Baseball
Maria smashed Guayama, grips with its new reality, a manager Carlos Texidor many neighboring commu- donated $75,000 to Little
a coastal town of around tall task for any kid. As fami- said through an interpreter. nities. League International in
40,000. In the weeks that lies searched for water, gas Communicating without a Yet practice after practice, April.q

Want to vote for the Tennis Hall of Fame? Now you can

By HOWARD FENDRICH would have been pretty there, with 74 percent,
AP Tennis Writer clear that I had made it.” and then with 1 percent of
Martina Hingis figures she Her sport’s Hall will let fans the vote from the fans or
wouldn’t have needed help select its next induct- 2 percent, you get to be
any help from fans to earn ees. Anyone will be able a Hall of Famer, because
her spot in the Interna- to submit an online ballot people liked you and they
tional Tennis Hall of Fame. starting in late August for followed you and they en-
Still, she likes the idea that the Class of 2019. joyed your game,” said Hin-
folks around the world now As in the past, members of gis, who was a member of
will have a say in who gets the Hall of Fame, journal- the Hall’s Class of 2013 and
elected. “I would have ists and tennis historians will now serves as an ambas-
hoped that people liked continue to be the primary sador for the shrine, which
me and liked my game, selectors. ISo in the case of is in Newport, Rhode Island.
liked my style, so hopefully a candidate who is nearly “Without the fans, you
that wouldn’t have made approved by the Hall-cho- wouldn’t have the sport.”
a difference to make it in sen voters but did not quite The nominees for the Class
or out,” Hingis said with a garner enough support, of 2019 will be announced
laugh during a phone in- the choices of people who this week. The fan vote re-
In this July 13, 2013, file photo, tennis great Martina Hingis, of terview. “I would have only watched from the stands or sults will be released in Oc-
Switzerland, laughs with Hall of Famer Rod Laver, of Australia, hoped that it would only on TV could matter. tober, and the list of induct-
during her enshrinement into the International Tennis Hall of
Fame in Newport, R.I. push me more. I would “You can help someone ees will be announced in
Associated Press hope that in my case, it who maybe is close, almost January. q