photo courtesy of Paramus Mayor Chris DiPiazza
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Paramus NJ, it was a remarkable summer for Paramus’ 8U Little League Team. What began on June 18 with a group of youngsters eager to play baseball culminated in a state championship on August 3. To recognize their incredible achievement, Mayor Christopher DiPiazza and the Borough Council honored the team on October 1 in a special ceremony. The Mayor joked that in years to come, these young players will be reminiscing about their victory over a few “sodas” at Biagio’s.
“You made Paramus proud, and that’s why you’re here today—to let the mayor and council say thank you,” DiPiazza said.
Parent Lori Dondiego praised the support from Mayor DiPiazza and Councilman Robert Kaiser, who attended several games to cheer on the team. “Seeing our 8-year-olds win best team in the entire state of New Jersey was wildly emotional,” she said. “I hope they’re as proud of themselves as we are.”
The Journey to Victory
Head Coach Paul Urbanovich emphasized the team’s unity and perseverance. “It was great to see the kids play for each other. We faced adversity throughout, and the kids responded as a team. Every player contributed to our championship journey.”
The 10-player team, which included eight 8-year-olds and two 7-year-olds, competed in multiple tournaments starting with district play, then moving on to sectionals, and finally the state championship. Along the way, they faced tough competition from teams like Ridgewood, Oradell, and Swedesboro.
One of Urbanovich’s favorite moments was seeing how the boys bonded throughout the summer. “They didn’t just play well—they grew together as friends and teammates.”
Assistant Coach Anthony Sardanopoli added that the most rewarding part was watching the players improve from the first practice to the final championship game. “The boys always bounced back from adversity, and their teamwork was inspiring.”
A Summer to Remember
Each coach had a standout memory. Coach John Aires cherished watching the boys’ confidence grow. “Even being down in a game didn’t mean they were out. After our first loss to Swedesboro, I was confident we would come back—and we did!”
Coach James Miranda reflected on the joy of seeing the boys celebrate after making the final out of the state championship. “Watching them jump around and throw their hats in the air was priceless. They created memories that will last a lifetime.”
Parents echoed the coaches’ sentiments, with Dondiego remarking that it was “a ridiculously special time” for the families. “Seeing our kids play with true love for the game was next level.”
Player Reflections
Several players shared their favorite moments:
- James Miranda Jr. (#3): “The best part was having fun and cheering each other on—oh, and winning!”
- Tyler Urbanovich (#7): “I loved being part of the team with my friends and winning such a big tournament.”
- Nico Sardanopoli (#12): “All of our hard work paid off!”
- Landon Aires (#20): “I liked pitching the best!”
- Ara Dondiego (#44): “Even when we didn’t play our best, we always came back even harder. That was really fun.”
- Tyler Miller (#11): “The best part was playing against other really good teams.”
- Luke Afromsky (#1): “My favorite moment was hitting a triple against Elmora!”
- Caden Oh (#30): “I loved meeting new friends and learning from cool coaches.”
- Adin Goodman (#2): “Hitting two grand slams and celebrating with my teammates.”
- Justin Tarabocchia (#6): “Everything about the state tournament—the games, the competition, and the TV crew recording it!”
Community Support
Coach Urbanovich expressed gratitude for the support the team received from the community. “The parents, our league president, the mayor, the town council, and so many others supported us every step of the way. The kids loved playing for their community, and it made the victory even more special.”
The Paramus 8U team didn’t just win a championship—they formed lifelong bonds, learned the value of teamwork, and made their town proud. Here’s to a season they’ll never forget!
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Ridiculous…they shouldn’t play Travel until they are 10 years old.