Palma Ceia Junior League Returns Home Champions!

Both teams showed tremendous determination and sportsmanship from districts all the way to the Junior League World Series. Both teams have a storied past. 

While the girls were no doubt disappointed in their loss in the finals, their finishes in the world series the last four years was: second, second, third and fifth. They are looking like the New York Yankees of junior league softball. One of these years, they are going to break all the way through.

The Palma Ceia/Bayshore boys junior league team did not lose a single game from districts, all the way to the world title. As the team entered the terminal hub at Tampa International Airport, they were mobbed by a host of parents, friends and well-wishers.

"I almost started tearing up," said manager Jorge Ramirez. "It was such a grind between being on the road, eating out, trying to budget money - it feels like home to see so many family and friends here."

Even the players were beside themselves at the reception.

"I knew there would be some people waiting for us. I didn't realize there would be this many," said Ronnie Ramirez, 15. "It's awesome - the best feeling."

"It's nice, feels good," said the laconic Patrick Kiszla, 14.

"It's good to know this many people were happy that we won," said Donovan Berry, 14.

The boys blasted through group play undefeated, barely even challenged. They got all they could handle from defending champion Chinese TaiPei in the final.

"They were a tough team to run on; good catcher, good pitcher," said Jorge Ramirez. "We had to piece it together."

The boys got a huge lift when Patrick Kiszla crushed a two-run homer way over the center field wall in the second inning. That gave the boys the two-run lead they needed.

"It was a fastball down the middle, I took a swing and I knew I hit it well," said Kiszla. "I knew it had a chance to go out but I wasn't sure. By the time I had turned first base, I could see it was gone."

Kiszla also came in the sixth inning to relive Jake Woodford, 14. Kiszla sat down the next six batters to get the save with some help from his stellar infielders. 

In the sixth inning, Donovan Berry, 14, leapt at a line drive, screaming over his head and came down with it.

"It happened so quick, all I could do was just react," said Berry.

Berry saved the base hit and helped the boys escape the sixth with a one-run lead, 2-1.

In the seventh, Kiszla again pitched well but another screaming liner, this time to shortstop, threatened the boys' tenuous lead. However, Ronnie Ramirez made another freak play that stopped any hope of Chinese TaiPei getting a runner on base.

"I didn't even know I'd caught it until I came down and saw it in my glove," said Ronnie Ramirez.

Kiszla struck out the last batter and the game was over. The boys were World Champions.

Ronnie is a shoe-in for series MVP. He batted .611, hit eight RBIs, two homeruns, eight stolen bases and had two wins from the mound.

"It was nice to be able to do that in front of all those fans," said Jorge Ramirez. "The people of Taylor, Michigan were great, the organizers of the tournament, too. Tremendous sportsmanship was displayed at every level."

"The people of Taylor, Michigan really made us feel at home."

"I would like to thank all the parents and supporters that hung with us through this whole thing; they were amazing."

The trophy will sit next to their 2004 World Championship trophy.

"I don't know what they put in the water in South Tampa but it makes them play good base/softball," said Jorge Ramirez.

South Tampa Patch asked Coach Ramirez what was next for him.

"I'm retiring," he said. "I've been doing this since little league and I'm ready to just be a dad now, to just watch games."