The Cubs of the Hollister National Little League AAA Minors
really know how to ride in style. Winning part of a bet for going a
perfect 16-0 in the regular season, the Cubs players piled into a
massive Ford Excursion from LTD Limousine after a mock practice at
Southside School then drove all over town, honking the horn, trying
to attract as much attention as possible.
”
Cubs are No. 1
”
was painted on the limo windows.
The Cubs of the Hollister National Little League AAA Minors really know how to ride in style. Winning part of a bet for going a perfect 16-0 in the regular season, the Cubs players piled into a massive Ford Excursion from LTD Limousine after a mock practice at Southside School then drove all over town, honking the horn, trying to attract as much attention as possible. “Cubs are No. 1” was painted on the limo windows. The kids, 12 in all, plus three of the Cubs four coaches, road willy-nilly until a second to last stop at Vet’s Park to let all Little Leaguers present there know which team doesn’t mess around when it come to hitching rides.
The last stop was at Veteran’s Memorial Park (the tiny park across the street from the ballfields) for an organized pizza party.
How about that, Mel Allen?
The bet, for the record, all began with some well-meaning words from Cubs manager Steve Carroll.
“We set three goals at the start of the season,” said Carroll, who was managing at the AAA level for the first time after a stint at Farm A and AA Minors. “We want to give the kids some life skills. One, we wanted to have good baserunning. Two, we didn’t want to throw the ball all around for no reason. Three, we wanted to win five out of the first eight games. Well, we found ourselves winning and the kids kept asking me what they would get if we went undefeated. I didn’t really think we’d go 16-0 so I said we’d let them ride in a limo. As the season wore on, the whole thing started taking a life of its own. Then, as the last few games were approaching, I realized I was going to have to pay off on this bet.”
The limo was on a three-hour rental agreement so family members, many who had never been in a limousine, were allowed to ride a few blocks in it. Then, when it was time to go home, the kids were dropped off at their doorstep, which caught the attention of some envious neighbors, many forewarned by players parents and equipped with cameras.
Some people’s kids.
“It was fun,” said soon-to-be 10 year-old Zack Carroll in an understatement.
“I’ve ridden in other limos,” said teammate Jay King, who has literally been around the block for one his age. “This is the first one I rode with a winning team.”
Assistant coaches for the Cubs are Bob Tiffany, whose Tiffany Ford sponsors the team, Richard Garcia and Frank Castillo. Tiffany and Steve Carroll have coached their sons on the same team for the past three seasons and even live two doors down the street from each other.
“These coaches do a phenomenal job with these kids,” said one player’s parent, Jeff Cummins. “They’re great role models, too.”
Cummins is a webmaster and put together a website for the team – www.AAAcubs.com. When one calls it up, one is greeted with “16 & 0 Cubs! Undefeated season – Cubs Rule!!” complete with team picture, plus game photos, etc.
The Cubs open up play in the District 9 Minors Tournament of Champions this Sunday in Soledad at 4 p.m. against the winner of Saturday’s Continental-Soledad victor. The tourney runs through Wednesday.
The AAA Twins will represent the Hollister American Little League in the tournament and face Salinas National Saturday in Soledad at 2 p.m.
Here is a list of the Cubs roster: Ricky Garcia, Adrian Soto, Jesus Ruiz, Zack Carroll, Zack Tiffany , Frank Castillo, Jay King, Willie Labato, Mitchell Darnell, Johnathan Trudell, Brandon Cummins and Kevin Martinez.
