[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 16637-16638]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO THE PONY LEAGUE TEAM OF NORWALK, CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GRACE F. NAPOLITANO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 11, 2002

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I am bursting with pride today as I 
rise to honor an extraordinary group of young athletes, the PONY 
(Protecting Our Nation's Youth) League Team of Norwalk, California, my 
hometown. On August 24, this team completed its undefeated competition 
in the 2002 PONY League World Series in Washington, Pennsylvania, with 
a commanding 10-0 victory over Levittown, Puerto Rico, to become the 
world champions. Norwalk became the first United

[[Page 16638]]

States team since 1999 to win the PONY League World Series, and the 
third California team in six years to win the title.
  After defeating tournament host Washington by a 11-7 score on the 
second night of competition, Norwalk cruised through the 13-game 
tournament with convincing victories over Hagerstown, Md. (11-0), Port 
Neches, Texas (11-4), and finally Levittown (10-0). The championship 
win ended their dominating four-game performance, in which the Norwalk 
team outscored their opponents by a combined score of 43-11.
  We are often bombarded by negative stories about our young people 
involving violence and drugs. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
acknowledging this each of the young people on this team who have done 
something so positive in working together to reach this outstanding 
achievement: Art Gonzalez, Jimmy Buentello, Frankie Lucero, Johnny 
Perez, Gabriel Schwulst, Danny Dutch, Miguel Flores, Jesus Cabral, Tony 
Zarco, Jamil Acosta, Eddie Murray, George Sanchez, Richard Melendrez, 
Anthony Topete and Victor Sanchez.
  I also want to recognize the team's manager and coaches, Ruben 
Velazquez, George Sanchez and Tony Rivas, as well as the parents of the 
players, who all played important roles in the team's success this 
season. Volunteers like these are the backbone of the PONY League, and 
without them the participation and success of our young athletes would 
not be possible.
  The PONY League provides an excellent opportunity for 13 and 14-year-
olds throughout the world to enjoy competitive baseball. The PONY 
League was founded 1951, and since then over 5 million young athletes 
have participated. There are now 28,500 teams throughout the United 
States and 12 other countries. I have always been supportive of this 
League, the Norwalk PONY-Colt League, since my own sons played in it 
decades ago. I am very proud of all of the young people who have 
participated this season and many other seasons, but particularly the 
2002 world champions from Norwalk, California. Congratulations.

                          ____________________