PAGE 28 — THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2009 LOCALSOURCE,COM UNION COUNTY LOCALSOURCE :& •< Event to honor baseball player Funds raised for grave marker On Sept. 18, members of the Essex County Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters St. Paddy's Day Kickoff Committee will be sponsoring a -i»v ass -? benefit called the "Half Way to St. Paddy's Day Event" which wilt benefit the Essex County Police and Fire Emerald Society Good and Welfare Fund. The benefit to follow will be held at the Knights of Columbus Union Council 4504 picnic area at 1034 Jeanette Ave. in Union from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The fund is utilized for law enforcement and firefighter family \\ members in need and also for educational scholarship funds for students ready to attend college. ••:• This event will also honor the memory of Lawrence J. Corcoran, who was a major league baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Stockings and New York Giants in the 1880s. "Larry" Corcoran won 177 games and lost 89 for a .665 winning per- centage in eight seasons as a big leaguer and holds the distinction of pitch- ing three no-hitters. That was the record until Sandy Koufax pitched four and then Nolan Ryan seven. The Stockings are currently the Chicago Cubs in the National League. Corcoran, who also, pitched for the New York Giants, was born in 1859 ti • ' in Brooklyn, NY and died in 1891 in Newark. He is buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in East Orange/Newark and was never provided with a grave marker. The committee feels it appropriate to give him one. There are no known Corcoran surviving family members. Sha'arey Shalom captured the Central New Jersey Temple League title. Kneel- The benefit will also raise funds for Mr. Corcoran's marker. A ing, from left, are Mike Sklar, Steye Jamnik, Neal Berger, Evan Jay and Jeff Nah- brief ceremony will take place on Sept. 18 at his grave site to pay a mias. Standing/from left, areiMitch Aronson, Doug Gincel, ' Brandpp,...Gincel, spiritual tribute and dedicate tlie grave stone to the memory of this David Sklar, Mike. Weckstein, Cory Berger and Jason Mulhnan. Not in picture are major leaguer; Brett Berger, Jake Floyd, Zach Floyd and Bart Fraenkel. The ceremony will fake place at approximately 3 p.m. and the grave marker will be provided by Kehgott Monument Co., located at 480 South Orange Ave. in Newark, with the assistance and cooperation of the Newark Catholic Archdiocese. Springfield softhall squad Former Newark native and major leaguer Rick Cerone of the New York Yankees and Brooklyn-born big leaguer Dan Morogiello of the 1983 World Champion Baltimore Orioles will be on hand for this tribute at the shows smashing season cemetary and at a function to follow. The Essex County Emerald Society Police and Firefighter Pipe and Drums will also be on hand for the grave stone dedication. Sha 'arey Shalom slugs way to success The donation will be $20 and will include refreshments, food, and entertainment. ' The Central New Jersey Temple League has been Beth Ahm also played well defensively; making The committee would also like to extend its sincere appreciation to the around since 1979 and for the first 18 years of play one defensive gem after another. Newark Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, The Newark Archdiocese Sha'arey Shalom of Springfield was always the brides- After finally scoring a run and getting two Cemetery personnel, the Essex County Emerald Society Police and Fire maid and never the bride, piling up winning seasons men on base with two outs, rookie Evan Jay Pipes and Drums, Best Provisions of Newark, Mr. Rudy Miller and Mr. only to falter in the playoffs. slammed a three-run homer to give Sha'arey the Ryan Miller of the Kenngott Monument Company of Newark, the That all changed when the squad captured its lead at 4-3. Knights of Columbus Union Council 4505 and to Peerless Beverage first title in 1998, going undefeated in the process Pitcher Mitch Aronson did not allow a run in the Company of Union for their generosity and cooperation. • at 14-0. final inning as Sha'arey went on to post the one-run, This committee is comprised of Law Enforcement Officers and Since that time, Sha'arey has created a corne-from-behind victory. Firefighters from Essex County. They include: Capt. John Melody, dynasty, winning nine championships, including Sha'arey opened the second game with a very Detective Patrick Corcoran, Detective Gerald Lenihan, Chief Insp. five consecutive from 2000-2004. big six-run first inning and, as a result, never John Cuff, Lt. Neil Minovich, Lt. Dave Wood, Sgt. John Ferrante, This year's squad completed a trek that started trailed. Deputy Chief Rick Zieser, Battalion Chief Jack Doll, and Special one year ago when, as heavy favorites, it was A total of seven home runs by the team were too Agent Mark Corrice. ' defeated by cross-town rival Temple Beth Ahm in much for Beth Ahm as Sha'arey went on to win 14-3 Melody also played minor league baseball, with his son Matt making the semifinals. • with an offensive explosion. the Newark Bears for the first time this year. Melody's nephews Ed and So it was only fitting that after going 134 during Smashing round-trippers were Jason Mullman (2), Pat Collins also played minor league baseball. Matt Melody and Ed and the regular season that Sha'arey would face Beth Ahm, Cory Berger, Doug Gincel, Brandon Gincel, Mike Pat Collins are Union High School graduates. which went 6-8, in the finals this year. Weckstein and Aronson. After beating Clark in the first round of the playoffs Aronson earned both mound victories against Summit boys' soccer at Scotch Plains 10-6 and then I. ivingston 20-5 in the semifinals, Sha'arey Beth Ahm and posted a stingy 3.00 earned-run average faced Beth Ahm in the best 2-of-3 finals this time. for his outstanding efforts. to open the season on Sept 12 Sha'arey won both games to finish 17-1 overall and Bart Fraenkel, Mike Sklar and Neal Berger also The Summit boys' soccer team will begin its 2009 campaign vs. the capture its first league championship in two years. picked up wins throughout the season with their school it concluded its 2008 season against - Scotch Plains. Beth Ahm won four league titles in the 1990s and stellar pitching. Summit saw a fine 16-6-1 campaign come to an end at home in the North 2, had a great playoff run this year. Jay joined fellow rookie Zach Floyd to add Group 3 semifinals last year when the Hilltoppers were defeated by Scotch The league is comprised of teams from youth and speed to Sha'arey's squad. Steady play Plains 2-1 after losing a penalty kick shootout by the score of 5-4. Springfield, Summit, Livingston, Metuchen, and key contributions were also provided by David Summit will open at Scotch Plains on Sept. 12 at 10:30 a.m. on Clark and Edison. Sklar, Steve Jamnick, Jeff Nahmias, Jake Floyd and Shimme Wexler Field, which is sports a FieldTurf surface. In the first game of the best 2-of-3' championship Brett Berger. One match Summit reached for the first time in a long time last year series, Beth Ahm held Sha'arey scoreless through five Including four post season victories, Sha'arey that Scotch Plains didn't for the first time in awhile was the Union Coun- innings. concluded its 2009 championship season with an ty Tournament final at Johnson in Clark. Beth Ahm scored one run in the first inning and impressive 17-1. mark. . Summit lost to Elizabeth 1-0, reaching the UCT title game for the first added two more on a two-run homer by Adam Frank Both teams are to be congratulated for the time since 1981. Scotch Plains, which lostto'Millburn 3-0 in the sectional in the fifth inning for a 3-0 lead heading into the bot- outstanding seasons that they were both able to final and finished 13-9-2, didn't reach the UCT final for the first time since tom of the sixth. accomplish. 1996, ending a streak of 12 straight seasons in the championship game.