Brooklyn Boro

Brooklyn courts softball league has its own heated rivalry

September 22, 2017 By Steven Ferraro Special to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle
The Kings County Civil Court Softball team pictured from left: Tommy Puma, Pete Ortiz, Vinny Oliva, Damian Secaira-Cotto and Chris Arvelo. Eagle photos by Steven Ferraro
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An elaborate softball trophy that features a widespread golden glove sits on a desk in the Brooklyn Court Clerk’s Office, surrounded by stacks of paper. At the base of the trophy are the words, “Brooklyn Courts Softball League Champions,” with the sides displaying each season’s victor.

The 2016 and 2017 plates are fresh and read, “141 Kings Civil Court,” and Chris Arvelo can’t help but grin every time he looks at it.

Arvelo spends his days as a clerk at the Kings County Civil Court in Downtown Brooklyn and his nights during the summer as the manager/pitcher for the Kings County Civil Court softball team.

“We have a good group of guys,” Arvelo said reflecting on the past two seasons. “For the most part, they cooperate. We don’t really have any egos on the team. It’s all about gelling together … We all feed off each other.”

The team attributes part of its success to its stonewall defense. Second baseman Damian Secaira-Cotto said, “We’re a great defensive team. We have a lot of great athletes in the outfield and then there’s guys in the infield that just know how to play.”

Now that they’re two-time champions, the Civil Court team has teams focused on beating them. Just blocks away, the Brooklyn Supreme Criminal Court, located at 320 Jay St., has a team with a history of victory.

The 320 Jays won the league in back-to-back seasons twice, first in 2010 and 2011 and then again in the 2013 and 2014 seasons.  They even swept the Civil Court in the regular season before falling short in the championship series.

Matt Santapaga, a court officer who pitches for the 320 Jays, has been in the league since he began working for the courts 23 years ago. For Santapaga, the league is a good way to form bonds and with coworkers, both inside and outside of work. “It builds morale, even with work … We help each other.”

Santapaga is fully aware of what building his biggest competition plays for and compared the teams to the famous Yankees/Red Sox rivalry.

“It’s always a close game,” Santapaga said. “We win one year, they win another year and it kind of goes back and forth.”

As with any rivalry, the winner doesn’t perceive it the same way. Chris Tropea, catcher for the Civil Court team played down the matchup.

“It’s not like the Boston Red Sox and the Yankees,” he clarified. “As sport rivalry, I guess, but we’re all friends.”

The Kings County Civil Court team’s faith in one another is evident. Chris Arvelo knows that his players pick each other up and hold themselves accountable when they aren’t having great games. As the manager, this makes his job that much easier.

Arvelo is sure that this type of teamwork will allow the Civil Court team to continue their dominance. When asked if there is a chance at a third straight championship, Arvelo replied, “Absolutely,” without hesitation.

“I think we’ll even be better next year,” Secaira-Cotto added.

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