Los Wepas de Worcester Celebraron Una Noche Inolvidable para Sudamérica
Los Worcester Red Sox les rindieron homenaje a varios países de Latinoamérica en el quinto encuentro de la Copa de la Diversión de esta temporada, Chile, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay y Bolivia fueron las naciones que, de una manera u otra, fueron representadas la noche del 5 de julio. La Copa
Los Worcester Red Sox les rindieron homenaje a varios países de Latinoamérica en el quinto encuentro de la Copa de la Diversión de esta temporada, Chile, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay y Bolivia fueron las naciones que, de una manera u otra, fueron representadas la noche del 5 de julio.
La Copa de la Diversión es una iniciativa de las Ligas Menores para promover el deporte y conectar a sus equipos con las comunidades hispano/latinas. Para estos partidos, los equipos adoptan una identidad y personalidad culturalmente relevante para algunos partidos de la temporada.
Polar Park recibió a aficionados de estos cinco países que se dieron cita desde varias ciudades de Massachusetts cómo Nothborough, Hubbardston, Fitchburg y Leominster, entre otros.
Como ya es costumbre, la noche arrancó con una presentación especial de baile, en esta ocasión, Corazón Chileno Boston deleitó a los más de 5000 aficionados con “La Cueca”, un baile tradicional de Chile que desde 1979 está considerada como la danza oficial del país.
Las banderas de los países también fueron ondeadas en las ceremonias prepartido, Lucas Alvarez portó la bandera argentina, Gicelle Brito la boliviana, Victoria Porteiro con la de Uruguay, la bandera chilena fue portada por Giacomo Barrea y, por supuesto, la bandera americana a cargo de Maveric Casia-Cuadro. Todo mientras se entonaban la versión a capella de "Orientales, la Patria o la Tumba", Himno Nacional de Uruguay a cargo de Guido López y la versión de Nicole Castilla Villamil de “Star Spangled Banner”.
Las ceremonias previas al encuentro también se encargan de homenajear a diferentes individuos y organizaciones que trabajan con la comunidad y que son agentes de cambio activos que mediante ideas y proyectos hacen de Massachussets un mejor lugar. Esta ocasión, la organización homenajeada como “Heart of Worcester” fue Unidos in Power, una institución sin fines de lucro que se encarga de abogar por las oportunidades sociales, políticas y económicas, además del empoderamiento de la comunidad Hispano/Latina en Massachusetts.
El equipo de transmisiones en español de los WooSox, Michael Smithers y Andrés Hernández, tuvieron la oportunidad de entrevistar a Elizabeth Cruz, presidenta de LABO y miembro de la mesa directiva de Unidos en Power.
“Somos casi un millón de latinos en el estado de Massachusetts y hay más de 40 mil negocios hispanos y es importante unirnos en una sola voz” mencionó Cruz, quien también es parte del comité de asesores para las noches de los Wepas. “Hace tres años comenzamos y la idea era tener latinos unidos y junto con Joe Bradlee necesitábamos formar un comité con gente latina que supiera promover estos juegos”.
Uno de los momentos más emotivos de la noche se vivió en el “Game Ball to the Mound”, con Thiago Molinari, un niño de 12 anos de padres uruguayos que vive en Fitchburg y que es sobreviviente de leucemia Michael Smithers tuvo el honor de platicar con Thiago sobre su ejemplo de lucha, resiliencia y su pasión que es el Tae Kwon Do.
“Fue un momento muy difícil de mi vida, pero gracias a Dios yo llevo 6 años libre de cáncer” mencionó Thiago. “Me siento muy feliz por estar acá con mi familia y poder tener tiempo con ellos”. El deporte ha marcado la joven vida de Thiago y mediante el Tae Kwon Do ha logrado superar las adversidades. “Te enseñan como respetar a los otros y trabajando con tus amigos de clase.”
El primer lanzamiento ceremonial estuvo a cargo de Albie Álvarez-Cote, que como “Hometown Hero” es una mujer propietaria de Che Empanada, un restaurante de comida argentina y que trabaja directamente con LABO (Latin American Business Organization) y que platicó con Andrés Hernández durante la transmisión en español. “Yo trabajo directamente con LABO, dando cursos para personas latinas que buscan abrir un negocio nuevo” contó Álvarez.
Las noches Wepa suelen traerle buena suerte a los WooSox, y en este juego, los asistentes pudieron apreciar una feria de cuadrangulares en la victoria de 10-4 frente a los Syracuse Mets, equipo de Triple-A afiliado a los New York Mets.
Enmanuel Valdez, Ronaldo Hernández, Daniel Palka, Pablo Reyes, Bobby Dalbec, Nick Sogard y Ceddane Rafaela se volaron la barda para redondear lo que fue una velada espectacular.
Aún quedan tres noches de los Wepas de Worcester y a continuación, la lista de las fechas y de los países que serán celebrados en el futuro:
-Miércoles 26 de julio: Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica y Panamá
-Viernes 18 de agosto: Puerto Rico
-Sábado 16 de septiembre: Brasil
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