Viewfinder: Fort Lee National League Prepares for Season

Opening day for the Fort Lee National League is April 11, so practices for major, minor and pee wee league teams are in full swing in spite of the weather. Teams have been practicing at the in hopes that things will warm up soon and they can get outside to take their swings and get their fielding and throwing work in before the true competition begins.

“Field Day” is April 9, when everybody gets together, cleans up the field and puts up signs in preparation for opening day, according to Fort Lee National League president Donna Martini.

Fort Lee Patch recently caught up with some members of the Fort Lee National League when John Casale, coach of two teams—Frank Patti of the majors and PBA of the minors—was running his players through fielding and throwing drills and assistant coach Thomas Kharzhanovski was throwing BP in the community center’s indoor batting cages.

The players and coaches were a bit busy working to talk much, but we did manage to get them to pause for a couple of posed shots and met not only Coaches Casale and Kharzhanovski, but the following players:

• Sebastian Delasoudas, 11, 3B/1B/Pitcher
• Giancarlo Casale, 10, C/SS/2B/Pitcher
• Edmond Papaj, 11, C/2B/Pitcher
• Simon Gilbert, 11, 3B/2B/OF
• Anthony Asatrian, 11, lefthanded slugger (position unknown)
• Sean Moravsky, 7, Pee Wee Leaguer