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Keys to success Bronx LLWS team honored despite Almonte flap
Updated: Wednesday August 29, 2001 3:41 AM
NEW YORK (AP) -- Little Leaguers from the Bronx received the keys to the city Tuesday and were honored for their sportsmanship despite an investigation into whether their star pitcher was too old to play. On the steps of City Hall, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani handed out the keys to pitcher Danny Almonte and 14 other members of the Rolando Paulino team, which finished third in the Little League World Series on Sunday. The team says Almonte is 12, born on April 7, 1989, in Moca, Dominican Republic, and has a supporting document. But Little League World Series officials were shown an affidavit Monday by Sports Illustrated that indicated a Danny Almonte was born April 7, 1987, in the town, league spokesman Lance Van Auken said. Little League rules prohibit any player born before Aug. 1, 1988, from competing this year. The age controversy was not addressed at the City Hall ceremony, but Little League Inc. president Stephen Keener said afterward the document found by Sports Illustrated had not been verified.
"If the second birth record happens to be the accurate one, then we've been deceived and I'm angry about it," he said. "What we need to do is determine which one of these documents is correct." As part of the investigation, Van Auken said the organization might have to send someone to the Dominican Republic. Giuliani, when asked later about the issue, said: "I think the youngsters should be given the benefit of the doubt." Almonte threw the first perfect game in the Little League World Series in 44 years and was the key to his team's strong showing in the South Williamsport, Pa., tournament. The "Baby Bombers" came within one game of the championship, losing to Apopka, Fla. They won the consolation game against Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. Almonte finished the tournament with 46 strikeouts, giving up only three hits in three starts. A run scored in the last inning of his final game was the only run scored on Almonte all summer. Rumors about Almonte's age plagued the team throughout the tournament, and Little League coaches in Staten Island, N.Y., and Pequannock, N.J., said they hired private investigators to find proof that Bronx players were ineligible, but to no avail. According to Sports Illustrated, Almonte's father, Felipe de Jesus Almonte, had registered his son's birth twice, with the earlier record showing a 1987 birth date and the later one showing 1989. If Almonte were found to be ineligible, Little League officials said the Bronx team would have to forfeit its last victory and the Rolando Paulino league's charter could be revoked. "He certainly plays like he's older than his years, but I would reserve comment until there's proof," said Tom Hart, whose State College, Pa., team was beaten 2-0 by the Bronx in the Mid-Atlantic Regional championship with Almonte pitching a no-hitter. "If it's a bogus document, then somebody needs to be held accountable for what they're doing to this kid and this team. If it's true, my feelings would be anger and frustration." At the ceremony, Giuliani praised the Rolando Paulino team, which will be honored with a parade Wednesday. "The team brought not only the Bronx together, but also the whole city together," he said. Added Keener: "We have never had a finer group of young men than these young men. ... They certainly conducted themselves on the field in a very sportsmanlike manor, with class and great dignity. We are very proud of them."
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