A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN : COUPLE TURNS BASEBALL INTO FAMILY SPORT.Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Daily News Staff Writer Pardon pardon, in law, exemption from punishment for a criminal conviction granted by the grace of the executive of a government. A general pardon to a class of persons guilty of the same offense (e.g., insurrection) is an amnesty. Bob and Donna Ruggieri if they're they're Contraction of they are. they're be in a hurry. The meter is running. The Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. couple and their five children are immersed im·merse tr.v. im·mersed, im·mers·ing, im·mers·es 1. To cover completely in a liquid; submerge. 2. To baptize by submerging in water. 3. in Little League. With five players, a manager and a team mother in the household, the Ruggieris run a veritable taxi service from home to practice and games. And they claim no complaints. ``We love every minute of it,'' said Bob, a 43-year old real estate agent/real estate consultant/loan officer/Little League coach/father. ``We really have a lot of fun.'' Donna concedes she wasn't was·n't Contraction of was not. wasn't was not wasn't be much of a sports buff while growing up but now finds she's she's 1. Contraction of she is: She's going away for the weekend. 2. Contraction of she has: She's been to the symphony twice this month. an avid AVID Cardiology A clinical trial–Antiarrhythmics Versus Implantable Defibrillators that compared the effect of implantable defibrillators vs the best medical therapy–antiarrhythmics for survivors of MI or those with nonsustained ventricular tachycardia fan. ``With so many kids playing, you're almost forced to,'' she said. ``But it's a lot of fun.'' The Ruggieris are the Brady Bunch of the Conejo Valley The Conejo Valley is a region spanning both Southeastern Ventura County and Northwest Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States. It was discovered in 1542 by Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, and eventually became part of the Rancho El Conejo land grant by . Bob and Donna met seven years ago when he was a soccer coach and she was the team's team mother. Donna had three children from a previous marriage while Bob had two of his own. They also were neighbors. They married in 1990. ``We sold both of our houses and bought our own home,'' Bob said. The children range in age from 8 to 12, and all play in the Conejo Valley Little League. Mike and Adam, both 12, are the oldest and play with the Phillies in the Major League. Next comes 10-year-old Jeff and 9-year old Alex, teammates for the Minor National Dodgers. Nine-year-old Nicole just started playing this year and is a member of the International League Dodgers. If all of that sounds a little bit confusing con·fuse v. con·fused, con·fus·ing, con·fus·es v.tr. 1. a. To cause to be unable to think with clarity or act with intelligence or understanding; throw off. b. , imagine trying to coordinate daily practice and game schedules. The Ruggieris generally find themselves at the Little League park or on the practice field six of seven days a week. ``We would never be able to do it without Donna,'' said Bob of his wife, who makes up monthly schedules and ferries the kids to games and practices. Bob coaches Alex and Jeff's team. ``The league gives the manager the option of being able to have his son play on his team,'' said Bob, who wanted Jeff to play in the Minor National League with Alex. ``I ended up having to give up my first- and second-round draft choices, but we were able to keep them on the same team.'' Alex is a catcher and might be the best athlete in the family. His father thinks it has to do with all the sports he watches on television. ``When he was 14 months old he'd grab the TV remote and switch channels until he found any kind of sporting event,'' Bob said. ``It didn't matter if it was baseball, basketball or bowling. He'd watch it. And if there wasn't any sports on, he'd literally start bawling.'' Nicole, the rookie rookie a novice; often an athlete playing his first season as a member of a professional sports team. [Sports: Misc.] See : Inexperience ballplayer in the family, took up the sport during the winter when Alex needed a practice partner. She's developed into such a fine player that her coach often uses her as a role model for other players: ``If you can play as well as Nicole, you'll be OK.'' Her reason for deciding to play is pretty simple. ``I just got tired of sitting on the bench watching my brothers play,'' Nicole said. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: (color) Donna and Bob Ruggieri of Thousand Oaks with Little Leaguers Nicole, Alex, Jeffrey, Adam and Mike. Evan Yee/Daily News |
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