The 13- and 14-year-old boys from Lazio have been in Taylor this week for the Junior League Baseball World Series. They are the champions of the region that includes Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The team entered the hall carrying the Italian flag and was warmly greeted by all of the members. Before enjoying a delicious pasta lunch, the Italian national anthem was played followed by an exchange of gifts between the members and coaches.
For the Italian champions, the World Series is an amazing experience because it is the first visit for most players and coaches to the United States.
Manager Fernando Ricci said through an interpreter that “it’s fantastic to play in the Junior League World Series here in Taylor. It is a great way to begin learning about American baseball.”
For Ricci, this year’s tournament marks his second time managing a European championship team in the United States. He said he managed a team at the Senior League World Series – big brother of the Junior League World Series – in Bangor, Maine.
The manager said “everybody on the team is having fun. The Junior League World Series is well organized, the volunteers are helpful and the players can be in contact with their families.”
The Downriver Italian-American Hall’s pasta cooking passed the team’s evaluation with flying colors and the general consensus of the team was that the pasta was very good.
Members of the Downriver Italian-American Club invite the community to check out “Downriver’s best kept secret” – the pasta dinner – on the third Wednesday of each month.
article source: http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2012/08/27/sports/doc502ec1584af51154604845.txt
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