2000 NYC Stickball Classic

Classic Coverage • 2000 Stickball Classic home The Streetplay Scoop • 9/30 Emperors are the Champs • 9/23 Latinos and Emperors    win semi-finals • 9/16 Youngbloods Take Brooklyn • 9/9 The Emperors of Queens • 8/19 Cavaliers Win in Manhattan • 8/12 Latinos Reclaim the Bronx Classic Features • Longball Competition • The Teams • People News • 2000 Schedule • 1999 Stickball Classic • Stickball: discussion • Stickball Home Click for bigger picture The Little Rascals and their coach discussing game strategy. Click for bigger picture The Bronx Emperors are the 2000 Stickball Classic Champs.

The 2000 NYC Stickball Classic Finals Click for bigger picture The New York City Cheerleaders helped pump up the volume at the final event. It was a classic match. Two great teams, the Latinos and the Emperors battling for the championship in the middle of NYC on a gorgeous early autumn day. The Latinos were defending their throne as last year's winners. The Emperors, one of the City's most well known stickball teams, were determined to make their presence felt and had entered several borough competitions in order to secure their place. The players have competed many times before in regular league play up in the Bronx. This time, the Emperors emerged victoriously with a tough fought 1-0 win. The day opened with the Longball competition, one of the Stickball Classic's hallmark features. At each of the borough competitions, longball contestants contributed $5 to the Police Athletic League for 5 chances to whack a spaldeen. Winners of the preliminary rounds received a $25 gift certificate and an invitation to compete for the Daily News' Grand Prize; a round trip to Puerto Rico for the winner in the Longball finals. A crowd quickly gathered to watch the power hitters show their stuff, or more accurately knock the stuffing out of the ball. Although players seemed a bit nervous at the attention, several 275+ foot shots were made. Bronx's champion Joey Rodriguez was the clear winner with a towering blast of 315 feet. The Stickball Classic's first Junior Exhibition immediately followed. Three teams competed in this event, playing three inning games. The East Bronx Bombers were favored to win, but the Little Rascals, a younger team composed of the children of players from the Emperor's Stickball League prevailed. The Bombers' showed their heart by competing against adult teams in several of the borough competitions. However today their bats were cold, perhaps because they were nervous by the size of the crowd. The Rascals picked up two runs through the offensive power supplied by Victor Morales. When the Bombers did threaten, the Rascal's three infielders Brittany Martinez, Reuben Santiago and Skylar Mercado combined on strong defensive plays to stop the rally. After defeating the Bombers 2-0, the Little Rascals went on to tie the Brooklyn All Stars 1-1 to complete the Junior Exhibition play. The day concluded with the main event, a showdown between two great teams, the Latinos and the Emperors. The Latinos, last year's champions took the this year's Bronx title back in early August. The Emperors, also based in the Bronx were edged out in that event, but went on capture the Queens competition. As in last week's semi-finals, defense was the key in the final game. The Emperors only run was scored in the third inning when Anthony Rosatto hit a triple and was brought home by Carlos Diaz' sacrifice fly. Wayne Lippold made a fantastic "Willie Mays like" over the head catch late in the game to quell the Latinos potential rally and preserve the lead. One run was all that was scored, but it was enough for the Emperors to defeat last year's winners. Congratulations to the Bronx Emperors, the 2000 Stickball Classic Champs.

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