The New Jersey Scholastic Baseball Coaches Association held its annual All-Star Classic last Tuesday night at Diamond Nation in Flemington and there was a strong Hudson County flavor to the Northeast All-Star team.
Seven players from the county were selected to the team, perhaps one of the strongest representations of local talent in recent years.
None more than from Union City, which had two players, namely Frankie Polanco and Jose Tavarez, and its head coach Chipper Benway, on the field for the Northeast All-Stars.
“It was an awesome experience,” said Polanco, who pitched a perfect inning, including a fly ball that was caught by Tavarez in left field. “I got to see other talented players from the state and handled myself well. I wanted to show what I had and I pitched a perfect 1-2-3 inning, so I was able to compete with the best players in the state.”
Tavarez had a great day, collecting two hits, including a double, scored two runs and had a stolen base.
“It was really a great honor for me to be there,” Tavarez said. “I feel blessed. I was told by a lot of teachers and teammates that I was wearing the Union City jersey one more time and I had to show where I was from. Thank God, I had a pretty good game.”
The two Soaring Eagles are very close friends, so they were able to share the moment together.
“Frankie is my brother,” Tavarez said. “His parents are like my second parents. We grew up together and played baseball together every year. For us to both be on the field together really meant a lot. It was a great feeling. When I caught the fly ball, I ran in and gave Frankie the ball and I gave him a hug.”
Polanco is debating on whether to attend Felician College or Brookdale Community College. Tavarez might be headed to the United States Marine Corps.
“I never thought it would come to this,” said Polanco, who had a perfect 8-0 pitching record for the Soaring Eagles this spring. “This will get me ready for college. But to experience it with Jose, who is like my brother, is amazing. I can’t ask for anything more.”
Neither could Benway.
“I never had two kids go to the game before,” Benway said. “Both of them were deserving. It means a lot to me, because I am now the Hudson County representative for the game and our kids did well. It gives me a lot more credibility throughout the state. Bergen County has 52 teams and has all that talent. But we had kids who performed very well.”
Anthony Ramos of North Bergen had two hits in the game as well. Some of the others who made the team include Colin Powers of St. Peter’s Prep, Mario Palos of Memorial, Corey Sawyer of Kearny and Brian Rodriguez of Weehawken…
Speaking of Rodriguez, the Major League Baseball Free Agent Amateur Draft came and went last week and Rodriguez did not get selected in the draft as anticipated, nor did A.J. Candelario of Bayonne.
Both were projected as possible draftees before the selection process began last week, but were not taken for some reason. Two prominent scouts, who asked to remain anonymous, had both Rodriguez and Candelario on their respective draft boards and were recommended by the scouts to be selected, but the teams decided to go in another direction, so both prospects will now hopefully move on to college baseball in the fall…
Diamond Nation in Flemington also hosted the fourth annual Garden State Underclassmen All-Star Games last week and some of the local players selected to play in the game included Daury Genao and Justin Willis of Memorial and Matt McDermott and Jack Carey of St. Peter’s Prep…
College Football Hall of Famer Rich Glover, the former Outland and Lombardi Trophy winner and All-American from Nebraska, will hold his annual All Access to Life Foundation Football Camp at Caven Point Cochrane Field from July 5-8.
The free camp is open to boys and girls ages 9 through 14 and will be held those three days from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, with breakfast and lunch provided.
Glover, the former head coach at Dickinson and later Ferris, has held the free camp for the youth of Jersey City, in conjunction with the Jersey City Department of Recreation, for several years.
There will be transportation provided from Snyder, Dickinson, Lincoln and Ferris High Schools at promptly 8 a.m. each day. For further information, call (201) 423-9961 or by e-mail at Sonja@allaccesstolife.org…
In keeping up with the 25th anniversary of the Scoreboard column here in The Hudson Reporter Newspapers, we are honoring the top 25 sports characters of the last 25 years. So here’s the latest in the chapter.
No. 21, Flash Gordon, Jersey City: There’s no question that Flash belongs in this group. Gordon, who has been a part of Jersey City Recreation for decades, was once asked what his real first name was. He replied, “Flash.” When pushed further to see what might be on his birth certificate, he uttered, “Flash Gordon.”
We have to guess that’s how he cashes his paycheck.
Flash is known for his colorful and outlandish clothes, complete with gold chains around his neck and flamboyant hats. His wardrobe is something that perhaps Huggy Bear wore on “Starsky and Hutch.”
He’s also known for his basketball wizardry, performing trick shots and dribbles, like something out of the Harlem Globetrotters.
A few years ago, the Jersey City Recreation Department sponsored an All-Star basketball game with some of the legendary players of the past coming back. There were also members of the Giants and Devils who played in the game.
As the game tipped off, someone snuck on to the floor to play with the legends. Who was it? None other than Flash Gordon, who capped the night by signing autographs.
A few years later, it was learned that Flash was indeed the father of football standout Jonathan Casillas, who now plays linebacker for the New York Giants. One would never think that Flash could be this player’s father, but it’s true. It cemented Flash’s place among the cast of top characters…–Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.