[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 113 (Tuesday, September 1, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9751-S9753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CONGRATULATING THE TOMS RIVER EAST AMERICAN LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I thank the manager and ranking member 
on the Foreign Operations Subcommittee for giving us these few minutes 
of time. This is kind of a happy moment in New Jersey. One of our 
communities, Toms River, has produced a special group of young people 
who have won the Little League World Series. I send a resolution to the 
desk and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.

[[Page S9752]]

  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 268) congratulating the Toms River 
     East American Little League team of Toms River, New Jersey, 
     for winning the Little League World Series.

  The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.
  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise to introduce that resolution 
along with my colleague, Senator Torricelli, expressing our pride and 
our admiration for that very special group of youngsters from New 
Jersey. New Jersey has a national philosopher who dwells in its 
boundaries. His name is Yogi Berra. He is often quoted and I quote him 
now. I recall he said, ``It's like deja vu all over again.''
  For another time, a New Jersey Little League team has won the 
prestigious Little League World Series championship, a group of 
exciting youngsters under the age of 12, vigorous sports figures now. I 
have seen them on television. I understand the 11-year-old pitcher got 
a request for marriage from an admirer. I don't think that is what he 
was striving for, but it happened. The honors accorded this group have 
been spectacular.
  This past Saturday, the Toms River East American Little League team 
clinched the honor, defeating Kashima, Japan, by a score of 12 to 9 to 
win the 52nd annual Little League World Series Championship. They are 
affectionately known as ``The Beasts of the East,'' these little guys. 
They are pretty good. They received a hero's welcome Sunday upon return 
home from the five-game series in Williamsport, PA, where they defeated 
teams from Jenison, MI, Cyress, CA, Tampa, FL, and Greenville, NC, 
before their final game with Japan. They are the fourth New Jersey team 
in history to win the Little League World Series and the first U.S. 
team in 5 years to win this title.
  Toms River East American has brought pride to its community and the 
entire State of New Jersey. They join the ranks of the New Jersey teams 
from Hammonton, the 1949 Little League champions; Wayne, NJ, the 1970 
champions; and Lakewood, champs in 1975.
  All of the young men on the team deserve hearty congratulations for 
an incredible season. I give you their names: Mike Belostock, Eric 
Campesi, Chris Cardone, Chris Crawford, Scott Fisher, Brad Frank, Joe 
Franceschini, Todd Frazier, Tom Gannon, Casey Gaynor, Gabe Gardner and 
R.J. Johansen.
  These 12 young men are not only fine athletes, but they are also 
outstanding young people. They showed poise and dignity, and if one saw 
them in that game on national TV, unparalleled enthusiasm under 
pressure.
  Their manager, Mike Gaynor, and coaches, Ken Kondek and Joe 
Franceschini, Sr., all volunteers, shepherded these youngsters through 
a 28-game season. I commend them for their hard work and their 
dedication on behalf of Toms River's children. But I also must 
congratulate the parents, the families and the fans of the team's 
players who supported these young sluggers through thick and thin. They 
traveled long distances to root for their children, and they are truly 
the heroes behind the champions.
  Mr. President, I am pleased that the entire U.S. Senate will have a 
chance to join with me and Senator Torricelli in recognizing the 
accomplishments of not only the Toms River East American team, but also 
the greater Toms River community. New Jersey and the Nation owe a debt 
of gratitude to the ``Beasts from the East,'' their parents, families, 
friends and fans for allowing us to celebrate this important 
achievement.
  As Yogi Berra said, ``I'd like to thank all of those who made this 
night necessary.''
  With that, I yield the floor.
  Mr. TORRICELLI addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Jersey.
  Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, I am very proud to join with my 
colleague, Senator Lautenberg, in offering this resolution of 
congratulations. With all the rancor and discord of our times, it is 
worth the Senate taking a moment to note that in small towns and cities 
across America, there are values that endure.
  On Saturday, 12 young men, no more than 11 and 12 years old, reminded 
us of some of those values. They became the first American team in 5 
years to win the Little League World Series. It is a process that began 
a year ago when 7,000 different teams across America and in several 
other nations began to compete for this honor. The culmination was on 
Saturday when, by a score of 12 to 9, they defeated Kashima, Japan.
  There is no denying the athletic prowess of each of the 12 young men 
who produced this victory. An 11- or 12-year-old boy to hit a baseball 
more than 210 feet in repeated home runs is as much an achievement in 
its own way as Mark McGwire racing for a home run title.
  But in truth, there is more to this success than simple athletic 
prowess. Behind each and every one of these young men was a parent, a 
coach, a teacher, a neighbor, an umpire--someone who gave something of 
themselves, not simply to teach an athletic skill, but character, 
values, the qualities of determination that are so very American.
  In this way, each of the 46,000 people of Toms River were a part of 
this victory; indeed, in a special sense, so was every American a part 
of this victory.
  The lesson learned is that sacrifice and humility are an essential 
part of victory. How else does one explain a Mike Belostock who, in a 
championship game at a principal moment of his life, discovers that his 
eye is scratched from a contact lens and tells his mother he has 
decided not to play because the eye damage could have sacrificed the 
chances of his team.
  Or persistence: Chris Cardone who replaced Belostock in the lineup 
and hit a game-winning home run, his first in 28 games, and only his 
second hit of the tournament. Or Todd Frazier who not only struck out 
the final Japanese batter, but who also batted a perfect 4 for 4 in the 
game.
  Those are all sources of pride, but when the game was over and the 
team came home, there was something that impressed me even more. Every 
parent made it very clear that on Monday morning, every superstar of 
the ``Beasts from the East'' would be at school promptly and ready for 
work when school resumed.
  Mr. President, I join my colleagues in congratulating Chris Cardone, 
Todd Frazier, Scott Fisher, Gabe Gardner, Joe Franceschini, Casey 
Gaynor, Eric Campesi, R.J. Johansen, Mike Belostock, Brad Frank, Tom 
Gannon, Chris Crawford and their coaches, Mike Gaynor and Ken Kondek, 
for a job well done.
  Toms River is a town of champions, those who were on the field and 
those who were off. For those of us in the Senate and across America 
who watched their achievement with pride, we are reminded that there 
are values in our children as quintessentially American as baseball 
itself. Toms River, congratulations and well done.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate? If not, the question 
is on agreeing to the resolution congratulating the Toms River East 
American Little League.
  The resolution (S. Res. 268) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:

                              S. Res. 268

       Whereas on Saturday, August 29, 1998, the Toms River East 
     American Little League team defeated Kashima, Japan, by 12 
     runs to 9 runs to win the 52d annual Little League World 
     Series championship;
       Whereas Toms River East American team is the first United 
     States team to win the Little League World Series 
     championship in 5 years, and the fourth New Jersey team in 
     history to win Little League's highest honor; and
       Whereas the Toms River East American team has brought pride 
     and honor to the State of New Jersey and the entire Nation: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the Toms River East American Little 
     League Team and its loyal fans on winning the 52d annual 
     Little League World Series championship;
       (2) recognizes and commends the hard work, dedication, 
     determination, and commitment to excellence of the team's 
     members, parents, coaches, and managers; and
       (3) recognizes and commends the people of Toms River, New 
     Jersey, and the surrounding area for their outstanding 
     loyalty and support for the Toms River East American Little 
     League team throughout the team's 28-game season.

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which 
the resolution was agreed to.

[[Page S9753]]

  Mr. TORRICELLI. I move to lay that motion on the table.
  The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
  Mr. McCONNELL addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kentucky.

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