Jaelynn Barrios has always loved playing softball. The Bayonne High School junior has played softball for several years, learning every trick in the trade from her father, Manny.
“He taught me everything I know,” said Barrios, a first baseman/outfielder for the Bees in the spring.
Over the summer, Barrios played for the Jackie Robinson Little League RBI softball program in Jersey City. She found out about a contest sponsored by Arm & Hammer Baking Soda and Major League Baseball that honored young ladies who play softball and who show the most leadership, integrity, commitment to the game and sportsmanship called the Jennie Finch Empowerment Awards, named after the softball superstar.
Barrios and Rebekah Villanueva, another of her teammates on the Jackie Robinson RBI squad, sent in videos that showed why they should be considered to receive the Finch Empowerment Award.
Lo and behold, Barrios was selected to be one of the regional representatives. In May, Barrios was then sent to Kansas City to participate in the MLB Breakthrough Series, where young ladies would learn fundamentals in the game, get advice from major college players, and participate in scrimmage games.
From there, Barrios was also selected to participate in another event in Vero Beach, Florida, called the Elite Development Invitational, held fittingly at the Jackie Robinson Complex from July 12-18.
This was a compilation of the top 90 players, ages 13 through 17 in the RBI program nationwide. Barrios was selected because of her performance at the event in Kansas City.
“This was way more intense training,” Barrios said.
This event was geared toward providing top training with players in the USA Softball program, getting college and career guidance and life lesson seminars.
Finch, the former All-America pitcher at the University of Arizona and now famed sportscaster, was on hand to instruct the young ladies.
“I did a lot of interacting with the girls,” Barrios said. “It was like meeting my super heroes and now I was seeing them in person.”
And Barrios found out what she does best – she’s a leader.
“I felt like I had to clean up the garbage,” Barrios said. “It was the least that I could do. I never had been outside of the New York/New Jersey/Pennsylvania area, so this was all a great experience for me. It was great to feel the different environment and meet new people.”
Barrios and her fellow EDI campers were treated to a Miami Marlins game, just like she took in a Kansas City Royals game while in Kansas City.
Barrios had to have made a great impression on the rest of the campers and coaches, because she was then selected as a recipient of the Jennie Finch Empowerment Award.
The 10 winners of the award were flown to Washington, D.C., where they watched Game 4 of the World Series.
“I didn’t know that I was going to get the award,” Barrios said. “I guess the coaches saw me asking to do extra reps and doing the leadership stuff.”
So last week, Barrios was off to Washington to receive her award. She was on the field before the game between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals, watched batting practice and got to meet standout players like Jose Altuve, Jason Verlander and Carlos Correa of the Astros.
Then, before the game was to begin, Barrios was near home plate when she received her Empowerment Award from Finch.
“The best part about it all was that I was able to bring my Dad,” Barrios said. “It was an unforgettable, surreal moment. It makes me know that I must be doing something right. It makes me feel good and that my name is being put out there. It also makes me more humble.”
Barrios also has a well known uncle in these parts. Her uncle is Wilber Valdez, the head football coach at Union City High School…
Speaking of high school football, Valdez’s alma mater, Hoboken High, had a rushing bonanza last week in the Redwings’ 46-20 win over Weequahic.
In the game, the Redwings had three backs eclipse the 100-yard mark. Kyrin Rhone led the way with 143 yards on 15 carries and scored two touchdowns. Nyjon Freeman bolted for 120 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Jason Blanks, Jr. had 101 yards on six carries and for good measure fullback Anthony Henriquez, Jr. had 52 yards on six carries and a touchdown. That’s old school Hoboken football, the kind the Redwings enjoyed when head coach Keeon Walker was a player in the mid-1990s…
Speaking of the Redwings, they are currently the 10th seed in NJSIAA North Group I and would be paired off with seventh-seed Pompton Lakes in the first round of the playoffs next week.
In fact, it’s a really down year for Hudson County teams headed to the playoffs.
St. Peter’s Prep, the state’s No. 1-ranked team and the lone undefeated team in the area, has more than likely secured the top seed in Non-Public Group 4 and would face Notre Dame of Trenton in the first round at Caven Point. The Marauders appear to be the lone local team to get a home playoff game.
Hudson Catholic looks to be the No. 6 seed in Non-Public Group 2 and will face Morris Catholic again after beating them last week.
Lincoln is the No. 10 seed in South Group II and the Lions will have to travel to Camden for a first round contest.
Union City, coached by the aforementioned Valdez, is the No. 11 seed in North Group V and will face Clifton. It appears that Bayonne is out after such a strong start. North Bergen has a game in hand, but the Bruins are the No. 18 seed and will have to beat Union City this week to even get a chance at moving up to the top 16 in the pairings.
And that’s it for the locals in the state playoffs…
The Hudson County cross-country championships are this weekend and we’ll have more next week with the teams and individual winners. St. Peter’s Prep is the clear-cut boys’ favorite and St. Dominic Academy is the girls’ favorite…
Speaking of cross country, Felician University’s women had a strong showing in the recent Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference championships. The team, coached by North Bergen track and field coach Elson Smajlaj, featured former North Bergen standout Shayla Morales, who finished second overall and County Prep grad Vanessa Saiboo, who was 15th…
Legendary punting and place kicking coach Pat Sempier, who is recovering from some recent health issues, received a boost in the arm last week when his prized pupil Younghoe Koo of Ridgewood was signed to a contract by the Atlanta Falcons. Sempier was a long-time teacher in North Bergen and has worked with hundreds of kickers – not receiving a dime in compensation – over the years. His life will be featured in a book that will be released sometime next spring…–
Hudson Reporter High School Football Top Five: 1. St. Peter’s Prep (8-0). 2. Union City (4-4). 3. North Bergen (4-3). 4. Bayonne (4-4). 5. Lincoln (4-4)…
Hudson Reporter High School Soccer Top Five: 1. St. Peter’s Prep (14-6-1). 2. Union City (9-6-2). 3. Hudson Catholic (10-3). 4. Ferris (13-4-2). 5. Dickinson (10-7-2).—Jim Hague
