They’ve been a team, a father/daughter tandem, for quite some time now.
Ever since Jaylene Sierra started playing softball, long before she was ever the Hudson Reporter Pitcher of the Year and a rare four-time Hudson Reporter All-Area honoree, she played for her father, esteemed long-time youth baseball and softball coach Ben “Popo” Sierra.
Jaylene’s high school career at Ferris was a marvelous array of victory and achievement, helping to put the Ferris softball program firmly on the map, both locally and statewide.
This past season, Sierra posted a 20-3 record and had 212 strikeouts in 134 innings pitched. She walked just 20 batters and surrendered just 89 hits. She ended her career with a 53-26 pitching record.
For good measure, Sierra was a beast at the plate as well, batting an amazing .662 with one homer and 33 RBI. She had 51 hits and scored 45 runs. For her career, Sierra collected an amazing 138 hits.
Sierra is headed to Coppin State in Maryland in the fall, an NCAA Division I program, fulfilling her dream. We incorrectly reported that Sierra was going to Towson in the article featuring the All-Area team in May, even after we reported Sierra’s letter signing with Coppin State in early May. Apologies for that mix-up.
Sierra daughter and father are paired one more time with the Roberto Clemente Little League softball program, participating in Major League Baseball’s RBI program, designed for players who reside in the nation’s inner cities.
Last weekend, the Roberto Clemente softball team won the sectional championship to advance to the RBI Eastern Regional in Springfield, Massachusetts next weekend.
Roberto Clemente defeated Passaic, Newark, Jersey City’s Jackie Robinson and nemesis Hoboken to capture the title. Hoboken has dominated the tournament in recent years, earning eight straight berths in the RBI World Series.
The 3-1 victory over Hoboken, obviously with Sierra on the mound, marked the first time ever that Clemente defeated the Shockers.
The two local teams will both head to Massachusetts over the weekend to renew their rivalry.
“We kept the team together to build for this year,” the elder Sierra said. “It’s an amazing feeling and we’re just taking it all in. Jay has just picked it up where she left off in the high school season. She’s been mixing up her pitches a lot more and it has been working. We’re all looking forward to going to Springfield and hopefully we can finally get a chance to go to the [RBI] World Series.”
The Clemente All-Stars unleashed their offensive attack, defeating Passaic by a final score of 15-3 and knocking off Newark, 12-1. Then the competition got tougher, defeating Jackie Robinson, 6-5, and then Hoboken in the finals.
Sierra has been getting help with the pitching duties by Snyder’s Jordan Mendolla.
The All-Stars are well stocked with catchers, having Ailanis Corporan of Union City and Mariah Villanueva of McNair Academic.
Snyder’s Nayeli Estremera is the mainstay at first base, with Gianna Zena of Secaucus holding fort at second base. Zena has been an excellent addition to the squad, becoming the team’s leadoff hitter. Naya Villanueva of McNair is in the mix at second base for some games, moving Zena to the outfield.
Naya Olacio of Bayonne, who earned Reporter All-Area honors at third base, is the starting shortstop. Aliyah Rivera of Hudson Catholic is manning third base.
Ferris’ Victoria Navarro is the left fielder, with former Hudson Catholic slugger Neckolette Nedwell, now playing at the College of St. Elizabeth in Convent Station, playing centerfield. Nedwell was an All-Area catcher for Hudson Catholic when they won the Hudson County tournament title last year.
Maria Montes of Ferris has been playing right field and second base from time to time. Ferris teammates Gina Estrada and Jazlynn Collazo are key reserves. Jatzary Gutierrez of Dickinson is another key player off the bench.
Nelson Estremera is the team’s assistant coach.
“We have a really good chance to go to the RBI World Series in Minneapolis for the first time,” Sierra said. “We expected to have a good team. A lot of these girls have a lot more experience now, playing against the top competition. We have a bunch of great kids. A lot of them come from my team that went to the state tournament when they were nine-and-10 [years old]. It’s been an amazing journey and it’s something I’ll always have.”
The memories will be sweeter with a victory in Springfield next weekend.
EXTRA INNINGS focuses on the best stories that come from local baseball and softball leagues throughout the area, from Little League action through travel leagues.
If you have any noteworthy information to contribute to the EXTRA INNINGS, feel free to contact Jim Hague by phone at (201) 303-5792 or via e-mail at OGSMAR@aol.com.
The e-mail would be the best way of getting in touch.
Please include a telephone contact name and number, in order to secure further information for a possible story. Also, if you have a picture to be used with the story, that would be a great help….–Jim Hague.
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.
