Must Be Remembered

All other pictures courtesy of Catherine Prioli

Since Saturday was our last chance to see Sophie Zinn before she heads off to summer camp and since, in my world, grandchildren outrank almost everything, I didn't participate in Saturday's Neshanock - Monmouth Furnace match.  Usually, when this happens, Mark "Gaslight" Granieri fills in as a guest blogger, but unfortunately, he was on the injured list after his legendary performance at Howell Living History Farm.  Fortunately, though, we have even more depth at the photographer's position than I knew as Catherine Prioli captured the game action and more.  Thanks, to her, and, while I'm thanking Priolis, special thanks to Nick and J.P. Prioli who once again manfully filled in when the Neshanock were shorthanded.  Thanks also to Tom MacNamara who made his Neshanock debut.  It was a close game with Flemington ultimately prevailing 20-14.  

Field Captain, Chris "Lowball" Lowry ponders the striking order

Scott "Snuffy" Hengst at the striker's line

Old habits die hard, Matt "Fly" Nunn remembers that in 1864 over running first base was not an option

Having regained the base, "Fly" isn't going anyplace

Thomas "Hawk" Prioli strikes with authority

The Prioli brothers, (left to right, Nick, "Hawk" and J.P.) head to the field

Secure in Daddy's arm, Julia Prioli surveys the field

Thanks to Russ McIver and the Monmouth Club for hosting the Neshanock at this historic venue

Thanks to the good offices of the Monmouth Club, the match was played at Memorial Field in Belmar at the Jersey shore. The Neshanock have had the good fortune to play at a number of historical venues and Memorial Field is special in that regard.  During the 1930s, the Belmar Braves, the local semi-pro team, hosted a number of the great Negro League players who are finally getting their long overdue recognition, recognition denied them, solely because of the color of their skin.  Among those who played in Belmar were 12 members of the Baseball Hall of Fame, now recognized by the plaque pictured above.  The plaque is the result of the hard work of Spencer Heulitt and the Belmar Historical Society who recovered a story that had been lost. Thanks to them and local officials the story has been not just remembered, but preserved.  It was a privilege for the Neshanock to play at Memorial Field and to honor the great players who held forth there so many years ago.