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Tom F.
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Thought this might be interesting reading for some.
Transplanted Dominicans Find Success In The U.S.
By Gregg Sarra
Staff Correspondent
August 20, 2001
South Williamsport, Pa. -- The Dominican flag flew proudly in the first-base bleachers today at Lamade Stadium, waved by
fans of the Rolando Paulino All-Stars from the Bronx.
The official Dominican representatives never made it to the Little League World Series. They were ousted from the Caribbean
Region tourney by the Pariba Little League team of Curacao, Netherlands Antilles.
But the Dominican Republic is well represented by the Bronx team that whipped the Iowa team, 7-4 ? 11 of its 12 players
were born in the Caribbean nation or have family from there.
The Dominican baseball connection has transformed the major leagues in recent years ? one town, San Pedro de Macoris,
has earned the label ?Land of the Shortstops? for sending so many to the big leagues.
That baseball culture has now taken root in cities like Miami and New York, home to many Dominican immigrants.
?Baseball is a way out of the Dominican,? said Sal Agostinelli, international scouting supervisor for the Philadelphia Phillies, who
plans to be at Lamade today thorugh the championship game, which President George W. Bush is also scheduled to attend.
?There are more Dominicans in major-league organizations than ever.?
The pipeline from the Dominican has produced such major-league superstars like pitchers Pedro Martinez of Boston and
Bartolo Colon of Cleveland, sluggers Vladimir Guerrero of Montreal and Sammy Sosa of Chicago and Mets bullpen specialist
Armando Benitez.
The Latin American influx is evident in U.S. Little League ball these days ? more American players come from the region that
any other part of the world. The large contingent of Davenport fans raised miniature American flags along the third-base line.
?The United States is a melting pot,? Davenport coach Matt Kolar said of the contrasting contingents. ?I think it?s terrific.?
Not all Iowa fans agreed with the coach.
?It?s an American team,? said Fred Gowey, an architect from Iowa whose son Alex Gowey plays first base for Davenport.
?You expect American flags.?
Copyright ? 2001, Newsday, Inc.
Transplanted Dominicans Find Success In The U.S.
By Gregg Sarra
Staff Correspondent
August 20, 2001
South Williamsport, Pa. -- The Dominican flag flew proudly in the first-base bleachers today at Lamade Stadium, waved by
fans of the Rolando Paulino All-Stars from the Bronx.
The official Dominican representatives never made it to the Little League World Series. They were ousted from the Caribbean
Region tourney by the Pariba Little League team of Curacao, Netherlands Antilles.
But the Dominican Republic is well represented by the Bronx team that whipped the Iowa team, 7-4 ? 11 of its 12 players
were born in the Caribbean nation or have family from there.
The Dominican baseball connection has transformed the major leagues in recent years ? one town, San Pedro de Macoris,
has earned the label ?Land of the Shortstops? for sending so many to the big leagues.
That baseball culture has now taken root in cities like Miami and New York, home to many Dominican immigrants.
?Baseball is a way out of the Dominican,? said Sal Agostinelli, international scouting supervisor for the Philadelphia Phillies, who
plans to be at Lamade today thorugh the championship game, which President George W. Bush is also scheduled to attend.
?There are more Dominicans in major-league organizations than ever.?
The pipeline from the Dominican has produced such major-league superstars like pitchers Pedro Martinez of Boston and
Bartolo Colon of Cleveland, sluggers Vladimir Guerrero of Montreal and Sammy Sosa of Chicago and Mets bullpen specialist
Armando Benitez.
The Latin American influx is evident in U.S. Little League ball these days ? more American players come from the region that
any other part of the world. The large contingent of Davenport fans raised miniature American flags along the third-base line.
?The United States is a melting pot,? Davenport coach Matt Kolar said of the contrasting contingents. ?I think it?s terrific.?
Not all Iowa fans agreed with the coach.
?It?s an American team,? said Fred Gowey, an architect from Iowa whose son Alex Gowey plays first base for Davenport.
?You expect American flags.?
Copyright ? 2001, Newsday, Inc.