Comerío welcomes its Double-A champions with grand-scale motorcade

By THE STAR STAFF

Hundreds of people took to the streets of Comerío’s urban center and neighborhoods on Sunday to welcome the Pescadores del Plata, the newly crowned champions of the Superior Double-A Baseball League.

The motorcade departed from Carlos Bonet Stadium and traveled through the municipality’s communities for some four hours before concluding at the town square.

Comerío secured its second national championship -- and its first since 2003 -- by defeating the Azucareros of Yabucoa 2-1 on Aug. 24 in Caguas. The Pescadores swept the final series in four games.

“It was a very emotional motorcade; the Municipality of Comerío pulled out all the stops by mapping out a perfect route across the town, with fans packing the streets,” manager Luis Matos said in a written statement. “When we arrived at the square, there were two orchestras perfo

rming for the crowd. Comerío is absolutely devoted to the Pescadores del Plata.”

The title marks Matos’ first as a manager in the Double-A league. He also holds two championships from the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League and two from the Caribbean Series.

“We experienced that hometown warmth at every ballpark where we played, but here we felt it even more closely through our interactions with the fans,” he added. “This championship will hold a

very special place in my heart.”

Flags representing Comerío and the Pescadores del Plata, along with messages celebrating the championship, accompanied hundreds of vehicles along the route. The celebra

tion concluded with a town party featuring music by Arnaldo Vallellanes and the Orquesta La Mulenze.

“It was something truly special. Seeing the entire town of Comerío out in the streets celebrating with us, showing such affection and pride for the team -- it was an experience one never forgets,” said pitcher Luis Leroy Cruz, the Finals MVP. “We had been waiting 23 years for this championship, so just imagine what it meant for all those fans to be able to celebrate it again. This championship doesn’t belong just to us; it belongs to all of Comerío.”