Roberto Clemente softball heads to RBI World Series in Florida

Gabe Villanueva has been coaching softball for a long time now, ever since his daughters, Mariah and Mya, signed up to play for the Roberto Clemente Little League softball program. So Villanueva knew first hand that he had assembled a good team to play in Major League Baseball’s Rebuilding Baseball in the Inner-City (RBI) Northeast Regional softball tournament a few weeks ago. “I didn’t know much about the competition,” Villanueva said. “I knew that Hoboken had a good team. They always have a good team in this tournament. But I knew we had some talent. We were going to take it game-by-game.” Villanueva remembered that Hoboken, under the guidance of Hoboken High School head softball coach Vinnie Johnson, has been a staple of success in the RBI tournament, making several appearances in the RBI World Series. “We were basically flying blind,” Villanueva said. “But the girls were very comfortable with each other, very comfortable.” So the Clemente RBI took on the comers at the RBI Northeast Regional last week and won all four games in the tourney to punch their ticket to the RBI World Series in Vero Beach, Florida. The Clemente All-Stars will head to Florida Sunday morning to play in the RBI World Series, a round robin tourney that will feature eight of the nation’s top softball teams. “I’m happy for the kids,” Villanueva said. “I want them to soak it all in. They’re getting to play against girls from all across the country. It’s exciting. I just want them to work hard and be proud.” Clemente will play its first game of the tourne

y on Monday and they hope to be playing when the final round commences Friday. Leading the way for the Clemente All-Stars is the Hudson County Player of the Year Jordan Mendolla of Hudson County Tournament champion Hudson Catholic. Mendolla is a dominant pitcher and a solid hitter. “She’s focused right now,” Villanueva said. “What I like is when it’s game time, she turns everything else off and concentrates on getting the batter. She puts that game face on and is all business.” Mendolla defeated Hoboken in the semifinals, then defeated Hoboken again, 5-2, in the championship round. “It’s not easy beating the same team twice in a week,” Villanueva said. “She did a great job.”

Backing Mendolla up on the mound is Lisa Frias from Elizabeth. Once teams are eliminated from the tourney, like Elizabeth was last week, teams are able to draft players from the eliminated teams. That’s how Frias earned her stripes with Clemente. “Lisa can play anywhere,” Villanueva said. “She can play second base, left field, catcher and pitcher. She comes to me and says, ‘I can do whatever you want.’ She’s impressive.” The team’s catchers are Mariah Villanueva, an All-Hudson County honoree during her playing days at McNair Academic and now plays at New Jersey City University, and Julia Sanchez from Hudson Catholic. Mya Villanueva is the team’s regular third baseman. The coach has enjoyed coaching his daughters. “It’s been a pleasure,” the elder Villanueva said. “It’s a little sad to see them growing up.” The dad will get a chance to see his daughters perform together in the spring as both will continue their playing careers at New Jersey City University. The first basemen are Ayla Hernandez of Rutherford and Najiah Classen of Hudson Catholic. Classen is expected to be Mendolla’s replacement at Hudson Catholic in the spring. Haley O’Connor of Hudson Catholic is the team’s second baseman with the slick fielding, clutch hitting Cheyann Fulton manning shortstop. Fulton is headed to Barry University in Florida to play college softball. “Cheyann is the team’s mainstay,” Villanueva said. “She’s one of the best defensive shortstops I’ve ever seen.” Fulton has a very hectic schedule over the next few weeks. She will head to the Sunshine State to play with her Jersey City buddies, then come home next weekend and two days later, head back to Florida to begin school at Barry. “It’s very wild,” Fulton said. “It means everything to me to play with this team. It’s a business trip for me. I’m not packed. I don’t even know what I’m taking. I’ve never played softball in Florida before. I’m very excited about it.” Fulton will major in athletic training in Barry. Mya Villanueva and Snyder graduate Emily Borowski are Clemente’s third basemen. “It means a lot for me to be on this team,” Mya Villanueva said. “We’re getting the chance to leave a good mark, make a good name for kids from Jersey City. We really have a special bond. It’s going to be a lot of fun and I get to share it with my sister and my dad. I missed playing with my sister. We’re going to try to make people of Jersey City proud.” Mya Villanueva will major in exercise science at NJCU. The feel-good story of the team is left fielder Jermirah Birchett, who is without question a rising star. The reason for the happy thoughts? Birchett is only 13 years old, playing on a team that features players 18 and under. That’s five years difference for those lacking mathematics skills. Some of this Clemente team is already in college. Birchett is headed to the eighth grade at the Jersey City Middle School. “You’re going to hear her name a lot in the future,” Villanueva said. “She does it all. She’s the next up-and-comer. She just turned 13. And she’s more than holding her own here.” Birchett is enjoying her time with the team. “I was surprised and excited to make the team,” Birchett said. “I’m getting this great opportunity. I was a little nervous, because the others on this team are very good. I’m the small one next to them. But this has been a major confidence booster. It helps me get my name out there.” Angelina Navarro is the team’s centerfielder. The former Ferris High School All-County performer is headed to Pace University and will try out for the team there. She has been playing softball for Roberto Clemente softball program since she was nine years old. “I didn’t think this was going to happen,” Navarro said about the sojourn south to play. “I had a job set up for the summer, but now I will give it up to go play in Florida. So we better win.” Navarro said the last line with a laugh. “I’m very excited about this,” Navarro said. Right field duties are being shared Gina Estrada, a former Ferris standout now at Monmouth University and Meredith Antonio, the sister of All-County baseball star Andy Antonio, who first starred at Ferris and ended up at Hudson Catholic. Two players who would have played key roles on the team are injured and will not play. Jaylen Berrios, who wateras a fine player at Bayonne, and Zoe Mays, the 13-year-old granddaughter of famed Olympic track and field athlete, the late Charlie Mays. The elder Villanueva is confident with his team’s chances. “We have a lot of talent,” Villanueva said. “I hope the girls realize that.” After watching the team practice last week at Enos Jones Field in downtown Jersey City and see them hit rocket after rocket in batting practice, it’s safe to say they know it now. And they hope that the rest of Vero Beach gets to realize it later this week.