A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood Thursday, July 5, 2001 Page 11 Check it out on the Web! Sports Section - Pages 11-14 www.goleader.com THE WEEK IN SPORTS CERCHIOS, BENAQUISTA, BROWN PROVIDE OFFENSE Sun Valley ‘Wrestles’ Down Marian Ave. Softballers, 4-2

By DAVID B. CORBIN Sun Valley overshadowed the Marian lacrosse coach Gerry Benaquista Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times Avenue squad and pinned down a 4- punched two singles and scored one Shades of a Westfield/Scotch 2 victory. of Marian’s two runs. But it was Plains-Fanwood (SP-F) convention Luke and Lou Cerchio – both “Matt” Brown who was responsible of wrestling stars and coaches as- former SP-F wrestling standouts – for both of Marian’s runs when he sembled at LaGrande Park in combined for three of Sun Valley’s ripped a two- in the sixth Fanwood on June 28 and squared off six hits and two of the runs. Former . in a Fanwood Old Men’s Softball Westfield High School (WHS) assis- Former WHS baseball and foot- Association game. The men from tant wrestling coach and present boys ball star Brian Ciemniecki, who fin- ished with two hits, cracked a single for Marian in the top of the first but was left stranded on first. Then, Sun Valley took the initiative and scored three runs in the bottom of the in- ning. Leadoff batter Jeff Doyle pa- tiently drew a walk, Luke Cerchio yanked a single to left and Lou Cerchio followed with an RBI double off the screen in deep left. The ensu- ing throw from left sailed out of play, David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times ENJOYING A WARM SUMMER NIGHT GAME...For decades, fans of all ages have enjoyed sitting down on a warm allowing Luke to score and Lou to summer’s eve and watching the Fanwood Old Men’s Softball Association games at LaGrande Park. advance to third. Bill Dorow then lofted an RBI sacrifice fly to put Sun Valley up 3-0. Marian threatened in the second, loading the bases on an error and singles from WHS wrestling coach Fanwood Softball Has Major Don MacDonald and Jerry Hughes. However, a major league play by Sun Jerry Lipshitz, owner of Hershey’s Deli in Westfield, silenced Question at LaGrande Park David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times the threat. CLOSE PLAY AT THIRD...Sun Valley’s Luke Cerchio boldly slides safely into The Valley men’s fourth run came third base in the first inning as third baseman Mark Benaquista tries to apply in the second when Jamie Teal laid By DAVID B. CORBIN Softball Association (FOMSA). As were added to the park, such as ten- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times the tag. CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 the years rolled by, their children nis courts, a playground and a small Since 1942, local baseball and soft- came to watch the games and dreamed roller skating arena. Nowadays, ball games have been played on what of a time when they too would be mothers with their children occupy is now known as LaGrande Park in FOMSA members. the playground throughout the day, GIBBONS, MARCHELITIS HR; ANTOINE GETS 3 HITS Fanwood. In fact, LaGrande Park “I would go down to the park every and potential problems have arisen came into existence because men night and watch the game. (In 1971) due to the proximity of the softball wanted to play baseball. you had to be either 21 or married to field with the playground. But recent complaints have called play. The teenagers just couldn’t wait FOMSA begins its games at 6:30 St. Louis Lashes Out Loudly; the future of LaGrande softball into to be old enough to play in the league,” p.m. on weekdays, and there has question, as some residents are con- recalled former FOMSA Commis- been fear that a ball may cerned about child safety at a nearby sioner Bob Brelinsky in the October hit a child. The most potential dan- playground. 28, 1999 edition of Our Towns – The ger may lie just over the 30-foot high Whips St. ‘Tom’ Boys, 13-9 Thanks to the generosity of Samuel Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood. left field fence. But the swings and Schwartz, a home building contrac- Also attending the games were citi- slides are beyond the equally high By DAVID B. CORBIN second when Rezza and Antoine both Mirto’s grounder to second scored tor, the land was first cleared and zens who just wanted to enjoy a pleas- center field fence, and it would take Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times singled and Wally Bradshaw ripped Lonergan’s pinch runner. Rick leased for a dollar a year to a small ant evening in the park, observing our a colossal shot to reach that area. Recently, the St. Louis “metal a clutch RBI single to left. Wustefeld then tied the score at four group of men, who later became national pastime. Richard and Phyllis Although no child has been hit – sticks” have been blazing. On June In the third, with Paul Morello on with an RBI sacrifice fly. recognized as the Fanwood Recre- Skillman of Scotch Plains have been even in foul territory – some feel that 22, the Lou men mutilated St. second and DiFrancesco on first, The St. Louis bats heated even ation Association (FRA). The FRA loyal fans of FOMSA since 1984. the voices of a few seem to have Michael, 20-1, with a 27-hit attack in Dave Rothenberg drilled a two-run more and burned St. Thomas for four built a baseball diamond and a grand- “This is a pleasant way to enjoy a taken precedence over the privileges St. Bartholomew’s Oldtimers Men’s double to right. Jeff Friedlander runs in the bottom of the inning. stand for their children to observe summer evening,” said Mr. Skillman. of many. The softball players have Softball League action. On June 29 yanked an RBI double to right to put Tony Dziedzic chopped a single past the games. Because of the ongoing efforts of been harnessed to use either wooden at Brookside Park in Scotch Plains, St. Louis up 4-1. second, Rezza walked and Antoine After World War II, many veterans FRA, which evolved into the bats or a non-regulation softball. St. Louis did it again with an 18-hit Marchelitis drew a leadoff walk in singled. Bradshaw added his second returned and joined what is now Fanwood Board of Recreation Com- “I enjoy a good ball game, but assault, quelling a challenge from St. the fourth, Lonergan singled and RBI with a hopping single past short. known as the Fanwood Old Men’s missioners in 1965, other facilities CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 Thomas to hold onto a 13-9 victory. Gibbons punched an RBI single to Jim Sheehan followed with an RBI Although St. Louis won the game, center. After Steve Pietrocha rico- sacrifice fly and Tom Rutkowski there were offensive heroes on both cheted a single off the pitcher, Bill CONTINUED ON PAGE 13 sides. St. Louis sluggers Al Antoine and Steve Pirella both banged out three hits and scored a run while Mark DiFrancesco and Al Rezza both had two hits and scored two runs. “Krunching” Keith Gibbons led the Tom boys’ 11-hit answer with two singles, a homer, three RBI and two runs scored. Ed Marchelitis mangled a two-run blast to add late-inning emphasis. The game did have some “hotshot” defensive plays also. DiFrancesco made a great shoelace snag in left field, Pirella made a smooth grab in center, and shortstop Antoine initi- ated a dazzling for the Lou men. Shortstop Marchelitis chased down a difficult pop-up in shallow left and Tom Henderson made an eyebrow raising catch in center for St. Thomas. St. Thomas scored a run in the top David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times Talksomecents of the first when Kevin Lonergan A “HOTSHOT” SHORTSTOP...St. Thomas shortstop Ed Marchelitis scoops a doubled and scored on Gibbons’ RBI grounder and fires to first in time for the putout. Marchelitis also hammered a single. But St. Louis tied it in the two-run homer in the seventh. WESTER WHACKS HR, GETS 5 RBI; DANNY ‘H’HRS toyourkids. Signal Softballers Obliterate

Introducing Valley’s Homestead Terrace, 15-1 Kids First By DAVID B. CORBIN thumped a leadoff to center, lashing single to right center. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times Jerry Miller looped an RBI single In the third, Horincewich launched Savings Game one of a doubleheader was a over third and John Rubinetti rapped his lonesome solo shot to faraway SM disaster for the Homestead Terrace a single to right center. Miller scored Club right field then the remaining three [ [ men as Cellular Signal Plus leveled when Gabe Bravo reached first on a Cellular men went down quietly. them, 15-1, in five in Scotch throwing error, then Mastrocola The first Homesteader to reach Plains Softball League, B Division yanked an RBI single to left. Lipari base was Dave Thompson in the top Bring your kids and their piggy banks into a Valley branch and watch their play at Brookside Park in Scotch brought home the fourth run with a CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 SM Plains on June 26. Carrying the larg- faces light up as they pour their coins into our VCoinWorks machine. They’ll see est wrecking ball was Chris Wester nickels and dimes add up to dollars, and then they can use the money to open who hammered a three-run homer and cracked a two-run single. a new Kids First Savings Club account. They’ll earn an incredible 4.00% The Cellular Signal men dented the outfield with a 16-hit bombard- Annual Percentage Yield. And we’ll match up to the first $10 they deposit! ment which included two home runs, Kids without coins are welcome, too. Valley understands the importance of a triple and a double. Leadoff hitter Kurt Lipari went 3-for-3 with an RBI saving, and that’s why we make it fun for kids to start early. and two runs scored and Dan Horincewich launched a solo homer Stop into a Valley branch* today. and added an RBI single. Cellular Signal Plus pitcher Frank Mastrocola had the magic touch as 1-800-522-4100 ~ www.valleynationalbank.com he limited the Homesteaders to just two singles. Mastrocola was sup- ported by a solid outfield that was responsible for seven of the first nine putouts. The first 10 Homesteaders went down in order but, in the meantime, the Signal men scored three in the Banking / Just like it’s supposed to be.® first, four in the second and a run in the third. Wester accounted for the first three with his blast to remote *VCoinWorks are available at most Valley branches. Call 1-800-522-4100 for the branch location closest to you. Valley will match up to the first $10 on initial deposit only. The Kids David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times First Savings Club account is available to children and teenagers under age 18. After the age of 21 the interest rate reverts to the regular Passbook rate. Minimum balance required right field. is $1.00. Rate accurate as of 4/17/01 and is subject to change without prior notice. Early withdrawal penalty if account is closed prior to 14 months. Certain restrictions may apply. LAUNCHING A SOLO BLAST...Cellular Signal’s Dan Horincewich launches © 2001 Valley National Bank. Member FDIC. Member Federal Reserve System. In the second, Mike Tenten a solo home run to remote right field in the third inning. CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK