Bridgemen Baseball Players Show Kids at Charity Clinic How It’s Done

The “Intense Baseball Clinic” is three-day clinic for five- to 12-year-old boys and girls, Fort Lee American and National Little Leaguers, softball players or any child who wants to give the game a try.

Sponsored by the (FLALL), the clinic benefits the charity, Caring Hearts of Fort Lee—participants are asked for at least $50 for five hours of instruction and practice—and is taking place for the rest of the week.

The clinic started Wednesday evening at the , where the youngsters were treated to a demonstration by some very special guests.

Members of the baseball team, dressed in full uniform, put on a high-energy demonstration for the younger players to kick off the clinic and get them excited about baseball.

Assistant varsity baseball coach Diego Lombardo ran shortstop Nick Gentile, second baseman Ross Fasman, first baseman Kris Doidge, catcher Ricky Pasternack and pitcher Patrick Darcy through a series of fielding drills as the younger kids looked on with apparent amazement.

“It’s always nice to give back to the community,” Lombardo said. “This is something they asked us to do so they’re more than welcome.”

Clinic organizer Tracy Mattei said that about 40 kids signed up for the three-day clinic, and that having the high school players put on a demonstration was a great way to get the clinic rolling.

“They were awesome about it because they came as a school team; what a great thing,” Mattei said. “It was to get them to see these big kids—I asked them to wear their uniforms—the little kids were [awed]. So the kids get really excited.”

Mattei said even getting to see the varsity players miss a throw or drop a ball from time to time—they didn’t much of that, but they haven’t even officially started practicing yet—was good for the little kids as well.

“How cool is it to get them to watch? I mean somebody actually misses the ball,” Mattei said. “It’s like, ‘Oh my God; I do that too.’”

Lombardo said the varsity team is looking forward to March 2, when they officially get to start practicing.

He said that while it’s a little early to say for sure, the team is “looking pretty good” this year.

“We have a decent amount of [returning seniors],” Lombardo said. “I believe we have six to seven. We go to Florida every year for the past three years that coach Mike Raftery put together, and it’s been a nice camaraderie when we go out. And when we come back, we usually get on a roll.”

The Florida trip takes place April 9 this year, during the initial weeks of the season, he added.

After the varsity players put on their show Wednesday, it was time for instruction, as the clinic’s volunteer coaches, including FLALL umpire Steve Casillo and coaches Jeff Schmelzer, Pete Mancini and William Mattei, took over, and the clinic was underway.