MATAMOROS, Aug. 16, 2006 (Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News delivered by Newstex) --
With their bats, and the high hopes of this city's baseball fans on their shoulders, Matamoros' youth baseball players headed to Williamsport, Penn., Monday to represent Mexico in the Little League Baseball World Series.
Team Matamoros A.C. claimed its place in the World Series in July, beating Los Tigres of Santa Catarina 11-1 and 10-0, at the National Championship in Acero de Monterrey, Nuevo Leon Stadium.
Los Tigres came to the championship with 31 consecutive wins, a chain which was cut off by Matamoros A.C., with a difference of more than 10 runs.
Mexico's success lies on the pitching game and talents of the team, including Omar Everardo, Zamora Faz, Josue Barron Maciel, Elias Segoviano Espinoza, Roberto Guajardo Lunar, Francisco Ortiz, Guillermo Zamudio, Jesus Garza, Reynaldo "Nano" Mariscal, Manlio Joel Cantu and Isaac Lambarri.
The team's offense is scoring an average of eight runs per game. The power hitters are headed by Segoviano, Barron, Zamora and Jorge Villafranca.
"I am very happy about winning the National Championship and going on to the World Series", coach Candelario Perez said.
"This happens only once in a lifetime," Perez said.
"We believed in a group of children, and dedicated ourselves to working with them. This was one very important project for us".
In his 18 years coaching, Perez has guided more than 20 Little League teams to impressive showings at national competition.
"Without him, we would not be where we are," said Matamoros pitcher and center fielder Roberto Guajardo, 13.
Guajardo is credited with 15 outs against Los Mochis, Sinaloa, at the Mexican national tournament. "I am very happy of the 15 outs that I pitched, I am going to do it again in Pennsylvania," he said.
Today, he's concentrating on training for what he knows will be stiff competition in Williamsport.
In Matamoros' winning lineup is catcher Jose Elias Segoviano, 13.
Segoviano has 10 longballs, breaking a longstanding record in the national tournament, hitting as far as 320 feet.
"I feel terrific," he said, a few days from World Series play. "We are going to win."
This is Matamoros' third showing in World Series play.
The 1987 Matamoros A.C. team represented Mexico and Latin America in World Series play. Most recently, the team carried Mexico's flag to the World Series in 2001.
Perez noted that his team plays well, they are concentrated on the field and follow their coaches' lead.
"I feel very happy to contribute to be able to go to the World Series in Pennsylvania, if we had lost the game against Santa Catarina, we would have been eliminated from the tournament," said pitcher Omar Zamora, 13.
Zamora, a key player, is credited with four wins at the national tournament.
"The team has always been very respectful, from the beginning we made a project to become the world champions, we only talked about it we were not arrogant, we did not tell anyone, we just continued having faith in being the champions," said Jorge Almanza, former league president and honorary president of Matamoros A.C.
"We know it is not easy, there are many good teams, but Mexico is prepared. With effort that dream can come true. We will be going for the championship."
Matamoros City Hall, supplemented by government funding, is covering travel costs for the players' parents.
The opening match for Mexico's team is against the Caribe Region at 3 p.m. Saturday. The game will be broadcast on ESPN Deportes.
"We are among a tough group, with Curazao, and Japan, they are the favorites," Perez said.
"If pitchers play like they always have, I have faith that we will be returning with the title."
The Little League Baseball World Series is from August 18-27 with 16 teams participating in two divisions -- USA and International.
The USA division will have eight teams from the United States, distributed in Groups A and B. The international division will be formed by teams from eight global regions distributed in Groups C and D. The winner of each division will play in a final matchup on Aug. 27.
The international competition will be broadcast by ABC and ESPN. For scheduling visit www. littleleague.org.
With their bats, and the high hopes of this city's baseball fans on their shoulders, Matamoros' youth baseball players headed to Williamsport, Penn., Monday to represent Mexico in the Little League Baseball World Series.
Team Matamoros A.C. claimed its place in the World Series in July, beating Los Tigres of Santa Catarina 11-1 and 10-0, at the National Championship in Acero de Monterrey, Nuevo Leon Stadium.
Los Tigres came to the championship with 31 consecutive wins, a chain which was cut off by Matamoros A.C., with a difference of more than 10 runs.
Mexico's success lies on the pitching game and talents of the team, including Omar Everardo, Zamora Faz, Josue Barron Maciel, Elias Segoviano Espinoza, Roberto Guajardo Lunar, Francisco Ortiz, Guillermo Zamudio, Jesus Garza, Reynaldo "Nano" Mariscal, Manlio Joel Cantu and Isaac Lambarri.
The team's offense is scoring an average of eight runs per game. The power hitters are headed by Segoviano, Barron, Zamora and Jorge Villafranca.
"I am very happy about winning the National Championship and going on to the World Series", coach Candelario Perez said.
"This happens only once in a lifetime," Perez said.
"We believed in a group of children, and dedicated ourselves to working with them. This was one very important project for us".
In his 18 years coaching, Perez has guided more than 20 Little League teams to impressive showings at national competition.
"Without him, we would not be where we are," said Matamoros pitcher and center fielder Roberto Guajardo, 13.
Guajardo is credited with 15 outs against Los Mochis, Sinaloa, at the Mexican national tournament. "I am very happy of the 15 outs that I pitched, I am going to do it again in Pennsylvania," he said.
Today, he's concentrating on training for what he knows will be stiff competition in Williamsport.
In Matamoros' winning lineup is catcher Jose Elias Segoviano, 13.
Segoviano has 10 longballs, breaking a longstanding record in the national tournament, hitting as far as 320 feet.
"I feel terrific," he said, a few days from World Series play. "We are going to win."
This is Matamoros' third showing in World Series play.
The 1987 Matamoros A.C. team represented Mexico and Latin America in World Series play. Most recently, the team carried Mexico's flag to the World Series in 2001.
Perez noted that his team plays well, they are concentrated on the field and follow their coaches' lead.
"I feel very happy to contribute to be able to go to the World Series in Pennsylvania, if we had lost the game against Santa Catarina, we would have been eliminated from the tournament," said pitcher Omar Zamora, 13.
Zamora, a key player, is credited with four wins at the national tournament.
"The team has always been very respectful, from the beginning we made a project to become the world champions, we only talked about it we were not arrogant, we did not tell anyone, we just continued having faith in being the champions," said Jorge Almanza, former league president and honorary president of Matamoros A.C.
"We know it is not easy, there are many good teams, but Mexico is prepared. With effort that dream can come true. We will be going for the championship."
Matamoros City Hall, supplemented by government funding, is covering travel costs for the players' parents.
The opening match for Mexico's team is against the Caribe Region at 3 p.m. Saturday. The game will be broadcast on ESPN Deportes.
"We are among a tough group, with Curazao, and Japan, they are the favorites," Perez said.
"If pitchers play like they always have, I have faith that we will be returning with the title."
The Little League Baseball World Series is from August 18-27 with 16 teams participating in two divisions -- USA and International.
The USA division will have eight teams from the United States, distributed in Groups A and B. The international division will be formed by teams from eight global regions distributed in Groups C and D. The winner of each division will play in a final matchup on Aug. 27.
The international competition will be broadcast by ABC and ESPN. For scheduling visit www. littleleague.org.
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