MONTREAL - A group of 11-and-12-year-olds in NDG is whacking away at some local baseball glory.
The NDG Lynx, always a strong squad, are simply unstoppable this year.
Part of that credit goes to their manager Ephrain Romero, a Venezuelan who, in his youth, signed professionally with the Toronto Blue Jays.
"I try to inject all the passion. You know the Latin American ballplayers are passionate, in Venezuela, in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, it's our national sport. And that is what I try to put on them," said Ephrain Romero.
His players appreciate their manager's pedigree.
"I was really amazed. My coach used to be in the farm team, that's pretty neat," said Joseph Raftus, NDG Lynx Shortstop.
The coach Romero brings along his son Efrain Jr. who has clouted eight home runs in 23 games.
In fact, the stats of all these 11 and 12-year-olds are stunning. They haven't lost in Canada this year, where they are 19-0.
"We're pretty good," said the younger Romero, a pitcher. "We've won 19 games and lost four. We won two tournaments already."
His Catcher didn't shake off that call.
"Yeah, we're a better team than last year's team. We have a lot more pitchers. That's for sure. We have like quicker players and good contact," said Francisco Perez, who backstops the mighty crew.
The little Lynx recently returned from a weekend tournament where they outscored opponents 52-2.
Their skipper says the key is that the boys enjoy the sport.
"They do what they do and they really have fun," said Manager Romero. "They make me feel super proud. There's a long way to go, but they're not thinking much about it, and that's good thing too. They don't play with pressure."
The provincials are in Val d'Or July 25th. The nationals in Edmonton and some could dream that this could be the team represent Canada at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania later this year.
