Seventh-grader plays just for the love of this game
Andrew Silva went to Puerto Rico to play
baseball with all-stars
By Genevieve Roja
Baseball is a way of life for the Silva family. After the conclusion of this interview, the family was headed up to San Francisco's 3Com Park to see the second-to-the-last game the Giants will ever play in the stadium. (Come next spring, the Giants will make a new home at Pacific Bell Park, near the San Francisco waterfront.)
Terry Silva's oldest, 12-year-old Andrew, is also clad in baseball garb, navy blue sweatshorts and a red mesh uniform that reads "Roberto Clemente All-Stars." The shirt is just one of four uniforms that Andrew, a seventh-grader at St. Lucy's in Campbell, wore last August at the week-long All-Stars program in Puerto Rico. Last year, Andrew played for the Los Gatos Little League Pirates.
Out of hundreds of applicants, Andrew and 13 other players from the United States were selected to compete against Puerto Rican amateur teams.
Andrew read about the All-Stars in an issue of Baseball Weekly. Excited by the idea of traveling to another country to play baseball with other boys his age, Andrew chose a week to go, then filled out an application and submitted letters of recommendation from his two batting coaches, Rob Hernandez and Terry Hardtke. Once he was selected, Andrew headed with family in tow to Puerto Rico to meet his U.S. teammates for practice (room, board, and travel expenses are paid by the organization).
"Andrew was from the furthest away, [the only one] from California," says mother Terry, who notes that other players hailed from New Jersey, New York, Florida and Pennsylvania.
Andrew, who usually plays second base, pitched one inning and gave up no runs. He also did well with a bat that week, going 7 for 10 at the plate.
During the day, the boys were drilled in fundamental skills of hitting, fielding, running and strategy by top high school and collegiate coaches. Nighttime was game time.
The real difference between American and Puerto Rican baseball players, Andrew says, is experience.
"They train all year long," says Andrew, who played last year with the Los Gatos Little League Pirates. "Here, everyone plays soccer, baseball or basketball."
He says he had no trouble with the language, since his father, Raymond, speaks Spanish. By far, Andrew's favorite game was the win over the Puerto Rican Little League World Series representative.
"The whole town came to watch," he says. "They were all doing cheers. Plus, it was a double-header in the rain and it was a night game."
Although Andrew's team ended up with a 2-3 record that week, his trip was still highlighted by several fun memories.
Favorite food?
"The pollo con arroz [chicken with rice]," he says.
Favorite part of the trip?
"Probably practicing on the Astroturf in the major league stadium in San Juan," Andrew says.
Meet any famous baseball players?
"One of the coaches, [program director] Vic Power, is a former Gold Glove winner," he says.
Favorite baseball team? That's easy--the New York Yankees.
"Well, I was born in the Bronx," Andrew explains. "I'm 2 weeks old and there's a picture of my mom holding me in front of Yankee Stadium."
Los Gatos, California Since 1881
