Victor Cervantes, Freddy Garcia and Ben DeMateo take a break from baseball practice in Chicago on Nov. 16, 2022. The boys are in Costa Rica representing Mexico in an international baseball tournament.
The boys, who have been playing side by side in parks on Chicago’s Southwest Side since they were 4 years old, are the only players from the United States representing team Mexico in the 14-and-under tournament in Central America, that runs through Sunday, said Matt DeMateo, executive director of the New Life Church, which runs the Little Village Little League. The boys will be competing with teams representing the Dominican Republic, United States, Colombia, Panama and Puerto Rico.
When he started playing ball, it was just for fun, he recalled. But he began to fall in love with the game. Victor’s father, Victor Cervantes Sr., said he is proud of his son. After immigrating to Chicago from Jalisco nearly 15 years ago, they established themselves in Little Village. The trip is also proof that good news and good baseball players are developing in the Little Village neighborhood thanks to the investment in youth, said Tony Rodriguez, one of the boys’ coaches.“But the goal of it all is for the boys to eventually get a scholarship and pursue higher education,” said Rodriguez.
He also became part of the coaching staff of the Cubs RBI All-Star program in 2019. Cubs RBI is a Major League Baseball program designed to increase participation and interest in baseball and softball among youth as part of Cubs Charities. Several RBI All Stars — including the three boys — emerged from LVLL and participate in RBI Scholars, which offers academic support to athletes in Cubs RBI.
Stay humble and kick ass !