Jersey LLers ready to take on the world
The preamble is over and the stage is set. Now it’s time for the Elmora Little League team to step into the spotlight.
The squad of preteens out of Elizabeth, N.J., begins its run at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., when they take on a team from Oregon under the lights Friday night (7, ESPN). Last week, Elmora beat a team from Haverstraw, N.Y., to win the MidAtlantic Region and advance to the late-summer classic.
“To be honest with you, we’ve been here since Sunday, we’re just itching to play some baseball,” coach Jairo Labrador said over the phone Thursday. “All the other stuff that is fun for the boys, and we’re so appreciative of it, but I think all of us, [Friday] is coming here and we can’t wait to do what the boys do, which is play baseball.”
Labrador would not disclose who his starting pitcher would be, despite J.R. Rosado tossing a gem in the regional final. But now with competition not just from all over the United States, but all over the world, the pressure has ramped up.
“That’s our strength is pitching and defense. We feel like any one of our five guys can go against anyone here,” Labrador said. “We have some guys in mind. We’re going to go with the plan which got us here.”
Elmora, which went 4-1 in the regionals, is taking inspiration from a couple different avenues. The first would be extremely local. The team known as “The Troopers” plays at Hanratty Field, named after lifelong Elizabeth resident, Thomas Hanratty, a New Jersey State Trooper who died when he was hit by a car during a routine traffic stop in 1992. The team honors his memory with a patch on its jerseys that reads “4791,” Hanratty’s badge number. It’s also a team chant.
The other obvious inspiration comes from the major leagues, where current Met Todd Frazier has shown how far Little Leaguers can go if they stick with it. Frazier was part of the iconic team from Toms River, N.J., that won the whole thing in 1998. Frazier has been interacting with the Elizabeth team on Twitter, wishing it luck.
It adds up to a pretty inspired squad.
“We’re all aware of how special the previous teams were, how they represented New Jersey so well,” Labrador said. “What sets us apart [is that] we’re a hardworking, blue-collar town — teachers, fireman, police officers, mailmen. We have industries, the port. The way I identify our team is hard-working, caring individuals that really care about the community.
“That’s how we rally our troops. That’s how we go into our game — it’s a little bit bigger than us. It’s about our city.”