The North Park soccer boys are on a roll. This week the San Diego City Council publicly recognized their feats, chief among them winning the state championship in their category in March.

It's the latest tribute paid to the boys and their coach, Mario Ramírez. The Major League Soccer team Chivas USA hosted them at their field in Carson a week after clinching the AYSO state crown in the U14 All-Stars division.

Then it was the San Diego Padres, who invited the boys and their families to dinner and a game on May 6, all on the house.

On Tuesday, it was the City Council's turn. Councilman Todd Gloria, whose district includes the team's home at Morley Field in Balboa Park, shared the team's story with his council colleagues. In proclaiming June 14 "North Park AYSO Day" he praised the boys, most from Latino working-class families, and their coach.

"It gives us so much pride to be recognized by the City,¨Ramírez said afterward.

At the ceremony, Council President Tony Young asked the coach what was his formula for turning players into champions.

Ramirez answered that he worked with each player to do one thing the best he could, be it passing the ball, defending against it, or scoring a goal. He said that when they all did that as a team, good things happened.

The coach asked the council to do all they could to encourage community sports, and asked their support to build more fields so more boys and girls could have the opportunity to play.

Ramirez, the owner of JMR Construction, has been coaching at the league for 11 years. Speaking after the ceremony, he said his goal is to give each youngster an opportunity to grow personally through playing in AYSO soccer, regardless of their skill level.

"It's very satisfying to see what the boys do on the field," he said. "But the real challenge is for the boys to be better in life."

He said that the North Park league had proved that it could rescue some youngsters, "taking them a little bit outside their living rooms, encouraging them to lead a healthier life."

Many of North Park's U14 boys have continued playing together after winning the state championship on March 12 in Garden Grove.

Over the Memorial Day Weekend, the All-Star team played in the AYSO Top Gun tournament in Mira Mesa, which attracts teams from Northern and Southern California and Arizona. After losing the first game, the local boys went on to win the next five, including the final, 4-0, against the team from Hacienda Heights.

More than a collection of players, Ramirez said that the league's leaders work hard to foster a sense of family.

He said that many of the youngsters who once played for North Park return later to volunteer as coaches and referees.

That includes both of his sons, Mario Jr., a student at USD, and Andrés, both of whom helped coach the U14 team. Andrés, 17, will be going to St. Lawrence University in New York this fall on a soccer scholarship.

"We've created a great family, good friendships and true affection" among our participants, the coach said.

His league does not have great resources, he added, but it does have "great volunteers" who have helped the boys become champions.

Erick Portillo, in the yellow, was North Park's leading scorer in Top Gun tournament

Alexandra.mendoza@sandiegored.com