Brick National ready for another solid spring
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer

The numbers remain strong, the coaches have been holding practices since March 1 under improving weather, the Little League field has been resurfaced and the new indoor batting facility that broke ground in the fall is expected to open sometime next month.

All of those signs bode for another great season for Brick National Little League and youth baseball when it opens its season on the morning of April 8.

"We have over 900 kids, which is a little less than last year, but a lot of kids graduated," said Luann Payne, the league secretary and information officer.

The league had its draft last fall and finished its other draft two Saturday ago to fill rosters with youngsters whose families just moved into town or who missed the primary draft last fall.

The chief groundskeeper for the Lakewood BlueClaws minor league team gave a talk to coaches who maintain the fields on the best methods of doing it. The league also put in a new infield for the Junior and Senior League teams.

With all of that done, everyone is eager to hear that sweet refrain of "Play ball" when league play begins next month. Opening-day ceremonies still are being finalized by George Ward, serving his second of a two-year term as league president.

There are 70 baseball and softball teams expected to participate and plenty of bright talent again this year. Many players are back from last year's 13-year-old All-Star team that won the prestigious Berkeley Tournament. And the Senior League, which has three teams in the 15-16 age group, will participate in inter-league play for the first time in many years against teams from surrounding communities.

Payne said the league has been affected "very minimally" by the new cutoff date mandated by the Little League headquarters in Williamsport, Pa., from July 31 to April 30.

"We lost no one at the Little League level, and only six 9-year-olds are moving up to the minors," she said.

Manager Jeff O'Neill's Mets are defending their Little League championship, and this year's champion will face an interesting situation. Williamsport has called for a Little League Tournament of Champions that will pit the team champion of each Little League program in the district. It will take place before the All-Star tournament.

"We're very excited about that," said Payne. "It's nice because kids who normally are not All-Stars can play in a competitive All-Star environment."

Most coaches and managers of last season are back again this year and the executive board remains the same. It will govern a program that was very competitive in All-Star tournament play last year and includes 14 teams in tee-ball for 5-6-year-olds, 14 teams in farm league coach pitch for 7-8-year-olds, 15 teams in the Minor League for 9-12-year-olds, 10 teams in Little League for 11-12-year-olds, five teams in Triple-A, which is divided into 13-14s and 15-16s, six teams in Junior League for 13-14-year-olds, and the three senior teams.

The three Major, Junior and Senior League softball teams are involved in inter-league play and all competed in the section tournament, with the Juniors reaching the semifinal round.

The administrators include first vice president Al Russo, second vice president Tony Martino, third vice president Mike Morrison, fourth vice president Jim Tressito, treasurer Amy Voorhees, sergeant-at-arms Ed Maliniak who also is farm league player agent, as well as player agents Bob Nolan for tee-ball, Joe Arrington for minor league, John Brower for Little League, Larry Nazarro for Triple-A, Greg Miller for Junior League, Elmer Thompson for Senior League and Michelle Wilenta for softball.

They have organized the efforts of some 200 adult volunteers who have helped keep the league running smoothly and successfully.