CONCOURSE — The Dominican stickball tournament in The Bronx on Sunday ended with victories for the Betayah Bombers and the Team Giants.
Both teams took part in Red Bull's Vitilla tournament, a version of street baseball that is popular in the Dominican Republic and played with a plastic bottle cap and a broomstick. The Bombers won the championship round of the tournament for amateurs, while the Giants took top prize for experienced jugadores de Vitilla.
Players on the Giants are all good friends who grew up playing the game together on the same team in the Dominican Republic.
“We were really determined because we used to play together, so we felt we couldn’t lose,” Team Giants player Richardson Valdez said in a statement. “It’s a special win for us because a tournament like this shines a light on a fun and joyful part of Dominican culture."
A total of 16 teams with four players apiece played in the tournament, which took place at the Joseph Yancey Track and Field in Macombs Dam Park, right next to Yankee Stadium.
The game follows many of the same rules as baseball with a few key differences, such as only having two bases and not allowing walks.
Several professional baseball players like Jose Bautista and Robinson Cano played the sport before making it to the majors, according to Vitilla expert Adalberto Garcia.
Betayah Bombers player Pedro Mejia said in a statement that winning the tournament for the amateurs reminded him of growing up.
“I remember playing as a kid and really looking up to the older characters that were well known in the Dominican Republic,” he said. “So winning today in my home city of New York brings me back to the happy place of my childhood.”
