Community Corner

Par-Troy East President: All-Star Success a 'Model for the Community'

John Bucciarelli said fundraising efforts are underway to support the team.

It isn't surprising that John Bucciarelli is a very happy man right now.

As president of the , Bucciarelli is getting a lot of attention for the quality of his youth sports organization, which produced . That squad is now representing the town, New Jersey and the east coast at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

"This is a great thing for the league, and it's a great thing for the community," the president told Patch Tuesday. 

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Bucciarelli said he found the team's success unsurprising.

"It was kind of unexpected—who expects this sort of thing?—but it was not out of the realm of possibility."

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And he said that the PTLLE All-Stars' success is the product of years of hard work and what Bucciarelli calls the 'Instincts" of team manager Mike Ruggiero.

"The core of the team has played together since they were 8 years old," he said. "When they were in the 8u [division], they played tournaments in summer that come prior to Williamsport. Mike Ruggiero said four years ago, 'I think we have something special here. Wev'e gotta keep these kids together."

Bucciarelli said most of those 8-year-old boys, now 12, are still together. Over the years, he said the coaches worked with the players as 9us, and "they won that tournament."

"At 10, they and lost at sectionals, but they seemed to progress and grow each year," he recalled. "They played as a group last year and , and this year .

Then the team went to the .

"They're a good group of kids," the league president said. "They played well together. They're dedicated and they work very hard. The coaches and volunteers spend a lot of hours working them, and it paid off."

That recipe for success—hard work, dedication, discipline—didn't escape the notice of teams the Par-Troy All-Stars faced on the road to Williamsport.

Patch spoke with Joe Russo, who coaches the Tri-Town Little League All-Stars, which represent Boonton, Boonton Township and Mountain Lakes, while he was at work in his position for the Parsippany Board of Education.

"We've played [the Par-Troy East team] every year in tournament play since the kids were 8 years old," Russo said. "They beat us every time. Emil Matti threw two no-hitters against us. It's just a special group of kids that they put together on this team. When you have a group like that and you work with them during the winter, the off-season—and that's what they did—you become successful."

Russo said he tips his hat to the Parsippany players for their focus and commitment.

"These boys are dedicated, and they love baseball," he said. "They don't play any other sports in the spring. They don't play soccer, they don't play lacrosse. In the winter, they go work out as a team, so that when spring comes, they're ready. And imagine, they've been doing this since [some of them] were 7 years old, and now, it's all culminated to this when they're 12.

"It's a fantastic thing," said a smiling Russo, who said he is planning on taking his Tri-Town players to Williamsport to see the Mid-Atlantic champions in action.

"The Parsippany players are real role models for our kids in Tri-Town. They are a great example to show that hard work and character does bring success."

PTE's Buccarelli agreed with Russo about the importance of hard work and character in making the Parsippany All-Stars rise to the top.

"One of the key things that impressed me even more than them winning is that they were recognized by the region with the Sportsmanship Award." he said of the honor bestowed on the players in Bristol, Conn., prior to their defeat of Delaware in the regional finals. "It's an outstading achievement and it demonstrates how well they represent our community and state."

And he said the boys are doing it in historic fashion.

"The league is 51 years old, and this is the first time in our 51 years that weve won the regional and gotten to the World Series," said Buccarelli. "We've had other baseball and softball teams in the state championships, but nothing past that.

"I think its a statement to the community and to the league of how well hard work and sportsmanship can progress you past your wildest dreams."

Bucciarelli said that from a league perspective, he believes the All Stars can serve as a model for future teams and programs.

Right now, he said PTLLE is focusing on appreciating the support pouring in from fans—Bucciarelli estimates about 1,000 people dressed in Par-Troy East red descended upon Bristol, Conn., for the regionals and said he expects to see the crimson hue in the stands in Williamsport as well.

Among those showing support is Parsippany's other Little League: . Its president, Frank Neglia, said the West players and coaches are, in spirit, wearing their Par-Troy East red too.

"We wish to congratulate the PTE Little League 12-year-olds on their recent victory," wrote Neglia in an e-mail to his East counterparts. "We would also like to wish them good luck on their quest to win the Little League World Series in Williamsport.  We're all behind them! 

"We are all proud of their accomplishments and their representation of Parsippany.  Go PTE!"

Bucciarelli said plans are in the works to try and offer a local bus to transport people to the World Series and to have the game televised at Parsippany High School or another location. The league also is hoping that supporters will help out with fundraising efforts to ease the burdern on team parents saddled with the bills of trips to Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

"We've worked out a deal with to print shirts to be sold there," Bucciarelli said. "One hundred percent of proceeds from the shirts will go to the parents. We're also hopefully sending out flyers to local businesses for their support."

If you would like to donate to help the effort, send a check to

Par-Troy Little League East
P.O. Box 163
Parsippany, N.J. 07054

Be sure to indicate on the check that it is for the 2012 All-Star team.

"For any gifts over $100 dollars, we'll set up a banner at the complex to honor them," Bucciarelli said.

He noted that a Paypal link will be available soon as well to make donating even easier.

Even if people can't donate, Bucciarelli said he hopes people get out and root for the All-Stars.

"It's a testament to the community and the family atmosphere in Parsippany," the president said of the team's success. "And it comes to light when you see the sea of red in the stands."


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