JULY 17, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY RON FOX
CORRESPONDENT |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Coaches only can hope to get their messages across as well as Guy Darienzo did in 2012. The Ridgewood Little League coach stressed team play, players pulling for each other and staying fiercely determined not to give up under any circumstances.
His Ridgewood Raiders squad won their district championship that first year and have won each of the age-group titles every year since as they’ve moved up, extending that streak this week with a 2-1 win over Waldwick for the District 4 12U title.
“As far as I know, winning four straight district championships is unprecedented in New Jersey,” Darienzo said as his team prepared for Saturday’s opening of sectional play in Kittatinny, where Ridgewood will play against Somerset Hills at 3:30 p.m.
Perhaps an even more spectacular streak is the team’s overall play. The Raiders have never lost a district game in those four magical years. Basically 90 percent of the players on the roster have played together while moving up through the various age groups to dominate and collect four district banners.
“The kids bought into what we were preaching [in 2012] and it’s great to hear them cheering for each other, each at-bat,” said Darienzo, formerly a standout athlete at Bergen Catholic.
Two well-balanced squads faced off for the title this time around. Waldwick, making its debut in the tournament, fought through the losers’ bracket to earn the berth against defending champion Ridgewood, and a pitchers’ duel broke out.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/fourth-straight-district-title-for-12u-group-1.1376003
