The West Windsor Plainsboro Babe Ruth League would like to thank its many sponsors and volunteers for helping to run the 13U Southern New Jersey State Tournament from July 18 through July 27.
Thank you to the West Windsor Division of Recreation and Parks, especially Ken Jacobs and Paul Grasselli, for keeping our fields and facilities clean and to the Babe Ruth League’s volunteer leadership of Pat Boyle and Carlos De La Rosa. Thanks, too, to Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh, for his support and for throwing out the ceremonial pitch on the first night of the tournament.
We could not have run this tournament so successfully without the support of our many sponsors, including Case’s Pork Roll, Wegman’s, Mc Caffrey’s Supermarket, Trader Joe’s, Amerigas, Epic Communications and Philly Pretzel Factory of Robbinsville. In addition, this tournament would not have been possible without the dedication of so many volunteers, especially Stephen Lichtenstein, Jason Welch, Michelle Welch, Bernie Froio, Ed Doherty, Max Tanner, Hayley Merrill, Michael Stern, Jacob Bellotti, Josh Zaklis and Simeon Kamble.
The tournament provided an excellent opportunity for the WW-P Babe Ruth 13U team to compete at a high level and to continue to learn the fundamentals of baseball, good sportsmanship, character, and teamwork. Several high school students were also able to hone their skills as sports announcers and score book keepers. Thanks, too, to the WW-P managers and coaches: Jason Welch, Stephen Lichtenstein and Paul Cooke, and to Michelle Welch, our concession stand manager.
We look forward to hosting future Babe Ruth Baseball League tournaments.
Dana Krug
WW-P Babe Ruth Baseball 13U Southern State Tournament Director
On behalf of the athletes representing 23 softball teams from 18 international and U.S. Special Olympics programs, we express our sincere thanks and gratitude to the Mercer County Parks Commission for its extraordinary support as host to the 2013 Special Olympics North America Softball Invitational this August.
The effort of the county park staff and participation of the county leadership demonstrates a precedent-setting commitment that will offer athletes the most extraordinary experience next summer at the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games. County Executive Brian Hughes and executive director of the Parks Commission Kevin Bannon, along with their staff, offered every resource possible to ensure a first-class experience for everyone in attendance.
More than 345 athletes and unified partners, 90 coaches, 225 volunteers, and thousands of family members and spectators attended this event. Mercer County Park’s facilities are exceptional, and its resources are superior to any venue utilized for any prior Special Olympics USA Games. We are looking forward to an amazing event next year.
On behalf of the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games Organizing Committee, thank you!
Rachel Gary
Director of Communications, 2014 Special Olympics USA
