Dominican Republic rebounds on Day 2 of Nike RBI softball tournament

VERO BEACH, Fla. – As the Nike RBI World Softball Regional Tournament rolled into full swing on June 22 in Day 2 of its tourney involving the Latin American countries and the U.S. Virgin Islands, one point became clear.

The Dominican Republic’s squad of young girls was trending upward.

Following a frustrating Friday that saw the Dominican Republic drop a pair of lopsided matchups – 9-1 against Puerto Rico-Aguadilla, 14-2 to the Virgin Islands – coach Santo Dotel’s girls rallied for even more one-sided affairs Saturday.

But in a good way.

In its first contest with Nicaragua’s Helping Kids Round First team, the island country scored 13 runs in an incredibly long top of the first inning, highlighted by Yasmel Vargas’ grand slam, before lightning and some sprinkling stopped play for nearly six hours.

The Dominican team poured it on heavier than the rain when the game resumed, tallying 12 more times in a 25-3 rout of the Central American side. The nightcap against Puerto Rico-Carolina was nearly as impressive: The DR handled the other Puerto Rican club, 15-5.

With only four returners from last year’s team that also played at the iconic Jackie Robinson Training Complex, Dotel knew there would be some growing pains but leaned on a couple of players he had in 2023, including spunky outfielder/pitcher Nasirys Perez Mora.

She helped rally the troops after the 0-2 start as they outscored the Saturday opponents, 40-8.

“I wanted to tell the team how to be better and advise them,” said the 18-year-old southpaw through translator Ismelda Cruz. “A bad game doesn’t define us as players. We had to get better, and every day is not perfect.”

Mora was in the middle of the fun in the baker’s dozen-scoring first frame on Saturday, dancing in the dugout with her teammates and being a part of a boisterous, festive-like atmosphere of cheering and singing as run after run crossed the dish.

Of course, the Dominican Republic team wouldn’t be playing in the former Spring Training home of the Dodgers without strong support.

Jefry Reyes, the RBI Coordinator of Dominican Republic and Player Development, has been at the forefront of the effort.

“It’s amazing,” Reyes said of being at JRTC, “because it’s an opportunity for girls in the Dominican Republic and [it's] critical for them. They’re very happy because not only do they have the opportunity to represent their country, but they also have the opportunity to be seen by other people from other countries as well.

“Because opportunities are so difficult back in the [Dominican Republic], when they get the chance, it’s amazing for them.”

Other than Cruz, a translator who serves as coordinator of player programs for MLB in the country’s capital of Santo Domingo, Mercedes Andujar represented the only other Dominican Republic native not on staff who appeared to make the trip with the club, but her role was still an important one.

A lifelong citizen of the coastal city of Barahona, a three-hour drive from Santo Domingo and also located in the Barahona Province, Andujar works with a sugar cane consortium that started a collaboration with RBI in 2015.

The relationship between the sugar cane growers, RBI and the Barahona community has been sweet and bountiful.

“It’s been a very rewarding experience. We have impacted more than 5,000 young people in Barahona,” said Andujar, who handed out wristbands embossed with Fundacion Central Barahona, the foundation she assists. “We support and fund all the players in the tournaments while they’re playing in Barahona, but to come here and get to Vero Beach and play in the regional, that’s all MLB.”

In all, 10 of the girls on the club hail from the Barahona Province, which is southwest of Santo Domingo and closer to the border of Haiti.

“It’s been a really good experience for me,” added Mora of the weekend. “I’ve been exposed to other cultures and other languages and we’re always given the best. It’s been a great experience.”