Friday, July 01, 2005
Get your Tivo's ready for Wiffle on this week in Baseball
YBN- Not sure if its this weekend but MLB's listed its upcoming Saturday This week in baseball lineup and of course we all know that Joe "Mariano" Nord is slated to be on camera to talk about Wiffleball. Here's what the MLB site says.
"This Week in Baseball" includes its regular features. "Beyond the Fence" looks at one of America's favorite backyard games -- Wiffle ball.
Everybody get their Tivo's ready to record it.
Click the headline to go to the MLB page that mentions the show.&nbs ¶ 1:20 PM
"This Week in Baseball" includes its regular features. "Beyond the Fence" looks at one of America's favorite backyard games -- Wiffle ball.
Everybody get their Tivo's ready to record it.
Click the headline to go to the MLB page that mentions the show.&nbs ¶ 1:20 PM
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Wifflemania carries on as a Parsippany rite of passage
Fund-raising tournament has become a tradition for men near and far
By Tehani Schneider, Daily Record
PARSIPPANY--Todd Geraci lives down south in Alexandria, Virginia, but returns to his childhood home here for two reasons.
"I come back for major holidays and Wifflemania," said Geraci, 35.
It may be a little known tradition outside of town but here in Parsippany, the annual wiffleball charity event is a long-running gathering for men ages 18-58 to relive the glory days of Little League and become wifflers for a day.
Parsippany residents, current and former, recruit their friends and family members to participate in the all-day tournament, and enjoy a day of male bonding and camaraderie.
"We have guys (from Parsippany) who have relocated to Colorado, Florida, Alabama, you name it," said Freddie Amato, 39, the commissioner and organizer for Wifflemania XXI, which was held on Saturday at Smith Field.
A couple of hundred men participated.
"They all come back to play."
Thirty teams are divided into two leagues- American and National. Amato's team, the "Bangers" leads the American League East.
Based on their overall record throughout Wifflemania's history, the teams are equally divided into two divisions- East and West in their respective leagues.
Other team names range from the traditional "Americans" to the zany "Gashouse Gorillas."
The minimum playing age of 18 creates an enduring situation for some youths, rendering Wifflemania a rite-of-passage for young boys in Parsippany.
"My son Nicholas is 10 and he can't wait to play," said Roseann Jannarone of Parsippany, sister to Freddie Amato. She was in charge of collecting registration fees, donations, refreshments and the 50/50 raffle.
For a good cause
Each team pays $100 to participate, and proceeds are donated to charity. This year's event will benefit The Daily Record-sponsored Operation Sunshine, a camp for disadvantaged children.
Past proceeds have gone to support the Parsippany P.A.L., Love Letters, The Valerie Fund and the Matthew Selitto Foundation.
Wifflemania began in someone's backyard, literally.
"It was at 8 Serdel Drive in Joe Bernard's backyard," said Barry Ryan, 45, the proud captain of the "Americans," who hold the distinction of the only team still participating in Wifflemania since its inception.
Ryan, a former Parsippany resident who now lives in Rockaway Township, recalled how the game was played for fun and eventually evolved over the years into a charity function.
"We had five teams and about 20 people," Ryan added, as he waited for his next at-bat in the Americans match with the "Joltin' J's", who were led by Joe Jannarone, Jr., 47, of Parsippany.
"We never dreamed it could get this big."
Rob Ruggiero, 35, stepped up to the plate and smacked the feather-light ball, watching its arc into the outfield.
Like most wifflers, Ruggiero, of the "Joltin J's," swung the yellow plastic bat with only one hand, thus extending his swing.
"The bat's too light. I can't hit it with two hands," he said.
Four games were played simultaneously Saturday morning on the sun-drenched field, with each match lasting about half an hour. Six rounds each were played before two teams advanced to the championship final. Colorful team t-shirts dotted the landscape, from the bright green "Big Kahunas" to the tie-dyed yellow and orange tees of the "Hulkamaniacs."
The reigning champions, the "Taz Terrors," looked the part. Clad in white sleeveless tees with black shades shielding their eyes from the sun's glare, the Terrors were no-nonsense as they prepared to defend their title.
"We're going for our fifth championship here," said captain Rob Mercuro, 36, of Florham Park. "There's a lot of new teams, younger teams to fend off."&nbs ¶ 2:24 PM
By Tehani Schneider, Daily Record
PARSIPPANY--Todd Geraci lives down south in Alexandria, Virginia, but returns to his childhood home here for two reasons.
"I come back for major holidays and Wifflemania," said Geraci, 35.
It may be a little known tradition outside of town but here in Parsippany, the annual wiffleball charity event is a long-running gathering for men ages 18-58 to relive the glory days of Little League and become wifflers for a day.
Parsippany residents, current and former, recruit their friends and family members to participate in the all-day tournament, and enjoy a day of male bonding and camaraderie.
"We have guys (from Parsippany) who have relocated to Colorado, Florida, Alabama, you name it," said Freddie Amato, 39, the commissioner and organizer for Wifflemania XXI, which was held on Saturday at Smith Field.
A couple of hundred men participated.
"They all come back to play."
Thirty teams are divided into two leagues- American and National. Amato's team, the "Bangers" leads the American League East.
Based on their overall record throughout Wifflemania's history, the teams are equally divided into two divisions- East and West in their respective leagues.
Other team names range from the traditional "Americans" to the zany "Gashouse Gorillas."
The minimum playing age of 18 creates an enduring situation for some youths, rendering Wifflemania a rite-of-passage for young boys in Parsippany.
"My son Nicholas is 10 and he can't wait to play," said Roseann Jannarone of Parsippany, sister to Freddie Amato. She was in charge of collecting registration fees, donations, refreshments and the 50/50 raffle.
For a good cause
Each team pays $100 to participate, and proceeds are donated to charity. This year's event will benefit The Daily Record-sponsored Operation Sunshine, a camp for disadvantaged children.
Past proceeds have gone to support the Parsippany P.A.L., Love Letters, The Valerie Fund and the Matthew Selitto Foundation.
Wifflemania began in someone's backyard, literally.
"It was at 8 Serdel Drive in Joe Bernard's backyard," said Barry Ryan, 45, the proud captain of the "Americans," who hold the distinction of the only team still participating in Wifflemania since its inception.
Ryan, a former Parsippany resident who now lives in Rockaway Township, recalled how the game was played for fun and eventually evolved over the years into a charity function.
"We had five teams and about 20 people," Ryan added, as he waited for his next at-bat in the Americans match with the "Joltin' J's", who were led by Joe Jannarone, Jr., 47, of Parsippany.
"We never dreamed it could get this big."
Rob Ruggiero, 35, stepped up to the plate and smacked the feather-light ball, watching its arc into the outfield.
Like most wifflers, Ruggiero, of the "Joltin J's," swung the yellow plastic bat with only one hand, thus extending his swing.
"The bat's too light. I can't hit it with two hands," he said.
Four games were played simultaneously Saturday morning on the sun-drenched field, with each match lasting about half an hour. Six rounds each were played before two teams advanced to the championship final. Colorful team t-shirts dotted the landscape, from the bright green "Big Kahunas" to the tie-dyed yellow and orange tees of the "Hulkamaniacs."
The reigning champions, the "Taz Terrors," looked the part. Clad in white sleeveless tees with black shades shielding their eyes from the sun's glare, the Terrors were no-nonsense as they prepared to defend their title.
"We're going for our fifth championship here," said captain Rob Mercuro, 36, of Florham Park. "There's a lot of new teams, younger teams to fend off."&nbs ¶ 2:24 PM
