Posted: 8/19/2008 3:59 PM
RE: Amateur draft Thread
On behalf of my family and JC we are very grateful to the Reds organization and we are indeed very pleased with the signing of JC by the Reds. Being a fan of the Big Red Machine it hurts to see the Reds become a small engine. Hopefully JC can be part of the rebuilding process and become a front line pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds in years to come and restart the Big Red Machine.
As a baseball coach my self for over 30 years, developing youth baseball players became a very important mission in life. Curacao has one of the most successful Little League baseball Programs of the Caribbean. Led by a group of highly touted volunteer baseball coaches such as Frank Curiel, Shonki Nicasia, Norvell Faneyte, Mark van Zanten, Ernst Meyer, Vernon Isabella, Michelangelo Celestina, Charles Cijntje , Didi Gregorius, Fania Bonifacio, Michael Victoria, Sixto Laker etc.
These men and women, dedicated their live to youth baseball and Curacao is very proud of them.
Last week Curacao in representation of the Latin-American region, won the Junior League World Series in Taylor, Michigan, but lost the finals of the Senior League World Series in Bangor, Maine. Curacao has won participation in 3 of the 4 little league World Series this year.
Curacao is representing the Caribbean again this year in the Little League World series. And on behalf of our lovely island I would like to extend an invitation to all of you to follow the Caribbean team from Curacao this week in Williamsport. (ESPN). Just for your info, Curacao is the undefeated champions of the Caribbean for 8 consecutive years and sports an incredible record of 51 and 0, never losing a game since the Caribbean regional tournaments started in 2001.
This program has already produced excellent professional baseball players such as Hensley Meulens, Andruw Jones, Ralph Milliard, Evanon Coffie, Randall Simon, Jair Jurrjens, Wladimir Balentien, Roger Bernadina etc. And more important than all, this program has produced winners, productive and respectful citizens for our island.
Contrary to most other kids from Curacao, Curt SmIth (39th pick signed with Cardinals) and Juancarlos Sulbaran, did not sign as non drafted free agents at 16yo. Both had lucrative offers to do so, however they choose the route of College and High school graduation, before pursuing their professional baseball careers.
JC and Curt Smith have set the example to all our kids playing Little League baseball to look for opportunities to attend school in the States before becoming professionals. And hopefully the success of JC and Curt Smith will indeed open the eyes of schools coaches in the USA towards the pool of talent in baseball, and also other sports, Curacao has to offer.
Finally on behalf of my “dushi korsow’ (sweet Curacao) I would like to extend a warm and cordial invitations to you all to visit our site at
www.curacao.com for more information about our lovely island. And please don’t hesitate to contact me personally at
jsprivate@hotmail.com for any additional information you might need prior to visit Curacao.
JORGE SULBARAN
Originally Posted by Jorge Sulbaran
Posted: 8/19/2008 3:59 PM
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