The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
BY RON FOX
CORRESPONDENT |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Little League rules mandate that every player on a team’s roster must have at least one at-bat in a game.
That was no problem for Tony Barbera, manager of the Ridgewood Under-14 Little League softball team, which roared to district, sectional and state championships this summer and missed by one game of moving on to the Junior Little League World Series in Kirkland, Wash.
Ridgewood Baseball Softball Association 12U boys take the District 4 Little League title!
13U Raiders win the 2016 NJ Section 1 Intermediate (50/70) Championship!
14U take the District 4 Junior League title in a 1-0 thriller
14U Girls are Section 1 Champions!
April 23,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Baseball & Softball Association (RBSA) held its 66th annual Opening Day Parade and Family Fun Day today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Weather held and the parade started at 9 a.m. leaving the Ridgewood train station and heading down East Ridgewood Avenue to Veterans Field. Grand Marshal Jim Griffith led the procession of over 1,000 players from the village’s youth baseball and softball teams . Opening ceremonies were held at Kasschau Band Shell, where Ridgewood High School senior Morgan Mastrangelo sang the national anthem.
New York Mets mascot Mr. Met made a special appearance and he was followed by a visit from the New Jersey Jackals mascot, Jack the Jackal.
Lots of food was available though gourmet food trucks that were brought in . The lineup included the Mac Truck, Pizza Vita Brick Oven Pizza, Jersey Johnny’s Grill, Empanada Guy, Thai Elephant, the Taco truck, Waffles de Lys and Ben & Jerry’s.
As has been the custom in recent years many activities were available for children will including music, carnival games, face painting, spin art and a jumbo inflatable obstacle course and slide. In addition, Veterans Field will have a pavilion showcasing 40 vendors with a mix of unique wares and sports-related items.
Ridgewood Police shut down East Ridgewood, Maple Ave and Franklin Ave by 9am for the Baseball Parade for approximately 45 minutes. This in turn backed up NJT buses and caused a few delays for passengers.
One of those 3 60×90 fields is a mess. Lower Hawes barely fits 90 foot baselines. First and third are at the edge of the infield. I think the RBSA has proposed addressing this field but have been turned down by the BOE and the neighborhood. The Somerville field is in good shape and functional but is also a full dirt infield, not the best for ‘true’ baseball. The primary field at Vets was in rough shape at the end of the high school season. Too many teams playing too many games on that field.
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I’m a broken record — let’s thank the Willard school district for all of this. They helped pass the vote for getting their school extended while including the field changes at the high school and BF (removing a 60×90 and a softball field). We can go back further to who proposed putting into that vote the field changes and Willard changes. Can’t continue to post-blame at this point.
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Let’s look at what’s needed to support the needs of youth sports in town. If soccer, baseball, softball, lax and other field sports can use the field, why is that such a bad thing? I believe (and could be wrong) that there was a review of the field usage and needs in town and we came up short. Schedler will help alleviate these needs.
JUNE 19, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY GREG TARTAGLIA
SPORTS EDITOR |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
RIDGEWOOD — Winning its first state-sectional title in six years was a highlight for Ridgewood High School this softball season, but it was far from the only one.
Many others were recounted during the Maroons’ season-ending celebration dinner at the RHS Campus Center last Friday. The varsity squad finished 25-5, recording its highest win total in coach Patti Auger’s nine seasons, and knocked off reigning champ Morris Knolls in the North 1, Group 4 final.
“I hope all of you, especially our seniors, will look back upon this season and recognize what you’ve achieved,” Auger said in her address to the team. “And when you stop by Gym 1 next year and look up at the softball [banner], and you see ‘2015 sectional’ displayed on it, I hope it stirs up memories of just what an amazing season you had.”
After an eight-inning, 2-1 loss to eventual Bergen County champ Northern Highlands on April 8, Ridgewood won 10 in a row, including one against the two-time State Group 3 titlist.
“By far, the highlight was a 4-2 victory over Indian Hills [on April 14], which ended their 42-game winning streak,” Auger said, triggering a round of cheers and applause from players, coaches and families present. “That truly opened the eyes of many softball followers in Bergen County.”
photo Ridgewood Elks Lodge
APRIL 24, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW BIRCHENOUGH
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
RIDGEWOOD — On a warm, sunny day, seemingly handpicked for the unofficial start of the season in the village, swarms of young athletes flocked to the 65th annual Ridgewood Baseball and Softball Association (RBSA) Opening Day festivities.
“The baseball gods, softball gods were with us today with the beautiful weather,” RBSA President Jim Albano said last Saturday, referring to the streak of poor weather the event had experienced in recent years.
The association pulled out all the stops this year, expanding the event with a 60-item tricky tray, 28 craft vendors, five food trucks and various other baseball- and softball-related activities.
“It’s a festival now, it’s not just Opening Day,” Albano said.
RBSA board member Lisa Powers, the key figure behind the so-called “grand-slam changes,” had sought a larger event to “bring the community together.”
“I wanted to make it bigger and better and more exciting, not just for the RBSA but for the community,” Powers said. “I wanted to make it fun for the kids, so it wasn’t just a parade, and they could have a day off from their games and play.”
The festivities attracted several hundred youth players to Veterans Field and the early reactions were positive.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/amazin-day-for-season-opening-festivities-1.1317693
APRIL 17, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Mr. Met will be among the attractions highlighting a revamped Ridgewood Baseball and Softball Association (RBSA) Opening Day Parade and Family Fun Day Saturday at Veterans Field.
The New York Mets mascot is scheduled to march in the parade, which is expected to include more than 1,000 players from the village’s youth baseball and softball teams.
The 65th annual event begins at 9 a.m. at the Ridgewood train station and will proceed through town via East Ridgewood Avenue to Veterans Field, where the opening ceremonies will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Kasschau Band Shell.
The New Jersey Jackals minor league team is slated to make a guest appearance alongside Grand Marshals Gary and Nora Muzio, longtime supporters and invaluable members of the RBSA.
This year’s fair features a fresh new look and will include five of the area’s top food trucks, including Pizza Vita Brick Oven Pizza, Jersey Johnny’s Grill, and Oink and Moo BBQ. A pavilion will be set up where 30 vendors will showcase a mix of unique wares and sports-related items.
Also new to the events is a 60-item Tricky Tray and Silent Auction. Participants can take a chance on winning prizes such as tickets to professional sporting events, golf outings, a Rawlings pitching machine, Easton Mako and DeMarini Vendetta bats, spa packages, dining certificates and more.
RBSA website
Annual RBSA Parade and Family Fun Day, Saturday, April 26
Grand Marshall is “The Special All Stars”. Special All Stars is a program designed to give children with special needs, in and around our community, an opportunity to play baseball/softball with the help of community volunteers via one on one personal instruction.
The Parade will begin as usual at 9:00 a.m. at the Ridgewood Train Station on the Wilsey Square side of town and will conclude at the Kasschau Band Shell at Vets Field.
Bring your family and enjoy food, activities and the RHS Varsity Baseball Game. We are looking for parent volunteers. If you would like to participate as a volunteer please contact Brendan Buckley; Brendan.Buckley@pinebridge.com
All Players and Coaches should be at the train station 8:30am. This year we ask that each player brings (1) non-perishable food item to the train station. The Social Services Association of Ridgewood and Vicinity will be collecting these for the needy in our immediate area. PLEASE SUPPORT THEM by bring a box of cereal, can of soup, or any item you can spare.
There will be RBSA Board Members walking around with Help Signs should any player or parent need assistance. Please view the attached TEAM ASSEMBLY AREA MAP.
PARENTS and COACHES – the Parade Assembly Area and the congregation of Teams at the Band Shell at the end of the Parade route is very chaotic.DO NOT LEAVE ANY CHILD UNATTENDED. If you find any child in need of help, bring them to the Band Shell and summon a Parade Marshal.
