A month ago it was simply a dream. Mineola, New York to Williamsport, Pennsylvania via Bristol, Connecticut. After dominating the New York State Little League Championships held at the Willis Avenue Baseball Complex, Manager Alberto Gonzales and his Rolando Paulino All-Stars from the Bronx headed off to the East Regionals for National competition. Who would have thunk that less than four weeks later, all of America would be captured by the mystery and grace of Danny Almonte and his teammates. Fortunately, we in Mineola witnessed firsthand and were not fooled at the advancement of these talented youngsters. For those that missed the magical ride, we document the fantasy.

Leaving Mineola as State champs for the first time, the Paulinos began their rise to prominence by crushing the first two opponents in Bristol's round robin play on August 5-6. Game one was an 8-0 whitewash of Delaware followed by a 14-0 rout of the District of Columbia in the Mid-Atlantic division. Playing a third game in as many days, the Baby Bronx Bombers fell to the Maryland state champions by a score of 5-1. Despite the loss, the squad was virtually assured advancement to the Regional finals. Fiction became fact when Maryland defeated Delaware in the Thursday morning session establishing the Bombers afternoon match moot. Gonzales managed liberally but lost to New Jersey in a close battle, 5-3. This pair of defeats would be the only losses the All-Stars would suffer since tournament play began in mid-June.

The regional semi-finals pitted a Maryland rendezvous. The first game was no indication of the desire of these determined kids. Almonte pitched his way to the finals in an 11-0 embarrassment. The final with the Pennsylvania contingent recorded a 2-0 classic behind an Almonte no-hitter. The trek to Williamsport was underway. The legend only beginning. The regional final was televised by ESPN. One week hence, Almontemania would be an American phenomenon.

The arrival in Williamsport may have been low-key. It would last for only hours. The opening game for the Mid-Atlantic champs was the Southeast qualifier from Apopka, Florida. Character determined the outcome. Stewart Tapley, the ace of Apopka, would see his nerves desert him early. Walking the first three batters and hitting the fourth netted Paulino an early run. The chutzpah of the inner city kids would then shine. Carlos Garcia jumped on the next delivery from Tapley, despite his wildness, and delivered a crushing grand slam and an inhibiting 5-0 lead. The rest was history, LITERALLY. Almonte was as cool as the Dominican surf proceeding to pitch the first Little League World Series perfect game since 1957. Were it not for two feeble bunt attempts in the sixth inning, the near impossible would have resulted - a strikeout of every batter faced. Tapley settled down allowing only two hits and striking out nine but the damage was done and instant fame was upon us. Almonte was the toast of the media.

Next up in pool play was the Midwest representative from Davenport, Iowa making their second consecutive trip to Williamsport. The Bronx were not fazed, after all they fell but a 0-1 game short in last year's Regional final. This was revenge on an innocent bystander. Louilly (Luigi) Vinas started for the All-Stars and proved his mettle. His four pitch variety kept the country boys at bay behind three hits, two walks and eight strikeouts. The Bombers trailed for the first time in the tourney but not for long. Entering the fourth inning behind 2-1, eleven men came to the plate and six would score. The big blows were a 2 RBI double by Tommy Guzman (3-4 on the day) followed by a two run home run by Rolando Torres (2-3 in the game). The crescendo builds.

Once again in a position where advancing was secured, Manager Gonzales went deep into his rotation for the final game of pool competition versus the Northwest opponent from Bainbridge, Washington. Rolando Torres took the start and blanked the apple pickers, 5-0. Baby Bombers scored early and often in a team effort. Almonte and catcher Francisco Pena had two hits each in a game without much drama and fanfare..

The National semi-finals produced the best game of the tournament. Almonte returned to the mound facing Thomas Eukovich of Oceanside, California. Both pitchers were flawless with Eukovich extending his no-hit bid longer than Big Danny. The squads matched donuts before the game turned on a controversial call in the fifth inning. Paulino mounted a two-out rally behind a pinch single by Santo Sierra. Gonzales used his automatic substitution provision to re-enter second baseman Reynaldo Guava as pinch runner. It would be brilliant. Kenny Espinal singled to right field and Guava advanced to third - without touching the second base bag. Cell phone calls from Oceanside to the Williamsport stands for an appeal play in the nationally televised game was unprecedented. The appeal was denied as the second base umpire never saw the turn while repositioning for the action from the outfield. Torres then delivered his shortest RBI of the year. A full swing on a tremendous off-speed pitch produced but a squibbler in front of the plate scoring the fleet Guava with the only run of the contest. Almonte shut down the West to secure the victory and placement into the United States Championship game. Almonte would finish with his third straight 16K game. Sportsmanship peaked when the Oceanside manager gracefully skirted the missed call as bait for the loss and relating squandered opportunities as the real reason for the defeat.

The United States Championship was the game the Bronx Baby Bombers did not want to see - a reprise with Apopka. The Florida squad had been the best hitting bunch in Williamsport with the exception of the perfect game. They wanted the chance to make amends and they did. Vinas took to the hill and had some early help. "Rocky" Torres took a pitch to the coconut, went to third on an Almonte single and took a 1-0 lead on a wild pitch. Vinas struggled with his control and was victimized in the third and fourth innings by the Florida long ball. Successive three run homers gave the Bombers a nearly insurmountable deficit. Mounting rallies in the fifth and sixth was not enough when Apopks shut down what little momentum there was with great defense and pitching. In the end, the Bronx All-Stars would fall one game short in their quest for greatness by a score of 8-2. All this in front of an outstanding crowd of 42,000 crazed fans.

The consolation game would provide one final glimpse of Almonte on the National scene. Rolando Paulino would face Carribean brethren from Curacao. The bats came alive a day too late for any meaningful prizes. The hitting heroes throughout the tournament would once again do the damage on this day. Guzman, Almonte, Torres, Garcia and Sierra all provided some punch and RBIs in a 9-1 blowout Almonte finished his two-year Little League Tournament play with another tremendous effort. Fourteen strikeouts (46 in 18 innings in Williamsport), two hits and two bases on balls on a day where the heart was no doubt elsewhere.

They left Mineola as an unsung and unkown group. They may never play here again but their spirit will live on at Willis Avenue for years to come. Maybe to inspire some of our own future sluggers. Utopia would be World Champions especially in the South Bronx that script would seem to sell. But life, especially for these families, is not Utopia. But that did not stop the feeling of being a 12-year-old kid in July or August. Credit this group with quite an achievement. They may have fallen a game shy of the precipice but they provided many of us, in Mineola and elsewhere, with a thrill that will last a lifetime. In Little League lore, it is the stories that are remembered. Kirkland, Washington's victory to suspend the Asian dominance in the '80s. Toms River, New Jersey's consecutive year run in the '90s. And for those who have been on this page since July 28 - the Rolando Paulino All-Stars not the Baby Bronx Bombers. That is how we came to know them - as personable and respectful young men playing a game they love. Thank you for restoring the good in the national pastime. And a standing ovation to the real BOYS of summer 2001.