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Tournaments  | Story  | 9/10/2010

S Bergen Mets Looking Forward to Jupiter

Jim Ecker     
Bobby Jones received a World Series ring for his service with the Boston Red Sox in 2004, but these days he's running the South Bergen Mets and hoping to win a championship ring with them as well.

South Bergen won the Northeast Qualifier No.1 at Baseball Heaven in Yaphank, N.Y., last month to earn an automatic spot in the WWBA World Championship that will be held Oct. 21-25 at the Roger Dean Sports Complex in Jupiter, Fla.

"We're very excited to go down there and compete," Jones said. "It's a great opportunity for them to shine and see what the rest of the country has to offer."

Jones formed the South Bergen Mets in 2006, just two years after his Major League career came to an end due to injury. He spent six years in the big leagues with the Colorado Rockies, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and Red Sox, compiling a 14-21 record and 5.77 ERA.

Jones had a modest major league career and appeared in only three games for Boston in 2004 when they won the Series, but he got that ring and he compiled a wealth of baseball information along the way. Now he's passing that knowledge along to his players with the South Bergen Mets.

"I'm giving them a few of the things that I learned," he said.

The Mets had a 47-14-5 record when Jones spoke to Perfect Game on Sept. 9, with the highlight coming at the Northeast Qualifier No.1when they topped a field of 32 teams.

"It's been a very good year. I can't complain," Jones said.

"I'm very proud of the guys," he continued. "They've been trying to win that tournament (the Northeast Qualifier) since they were freshmen. To see it all the way through and battle, it's a special feeling."

The Mets have players from New Jersey, Connecticut and New York on their roster this year. Most of the players will graduate from high school in 2011, but there are a few underclassmen on the club as well.

South Bergen compiled a 6-0 record at the Northeast Qualifier. The Mets outscored their six opponents, 42-10, and beat the Farrah Builders Scout Team, 5-2, in the finals.

Eric Peterson, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound outfielder/first baseman from Hackettstown, N.J., was named the Most Valuable Player of that Northeast Regional. Eric Ashworth, a 6-3, 200-pound pitcher/third baseman from Orange, Conn., was named the Most Valuable Pitcher.

Peterson hit a two-run homer when the Mets defeated Baseball U AAA, 8-4, in the quarterfinals. That game was tied, 4-4, in the bottom of the sixth inning when the Mets scored four runs, including a pair on Peterson's roundtripper.

Peterson also was named the MVP of the CABA World Series in Ohio this year.

"He's been hot all summer," said Jones.

Ashworth tossed a two-hit shutout when the Mets blanked the Philadelphia Senators, 5-0, in the semifinals. He pitched a complete game with eight strikeouts.

"He's been a joy to coach," said Jones.

The Mets will participate in the Northeast Qualifier No.2 tournament this weekend (Sept. 11-13) at Baseball Heaven in another 32-team field, but they've already punched their ticket to Jupiter. Jones attended the WWBA Championships last year with a few of his players, but now he's going back with a full team.

"I just thought it was a fabulous event," he said.

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