'Battle Of The Badges' Sees NJ State Police Suit Up For Charity Softball Game

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey state troopers will be suiting up in new uniforms Thursday night and taking on their Pennsylvania counterparts—in a charity softball game.

The “Battle of the Badges” between New Jersey State Police and Pennsylvania State Police is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3 at Skylands Stadium (94 Championship Place, Augusta, NJ 07822).

Proceeds will benefit families on both sides of the Delaware River.

The Sussex County Miners, a Frontier League of Professional Baseball team in northwest Jersey, will host the game before a crucial matchup with the New Jersey Jackals at 7:05 p.m.

The baseball organization and the two police departments will donate money to families of fallen Pennsylvania trooper Jacques F. Rougeau Jr. and his colleague Lt. James A. Wagner, who was injured in an ambush; and to the family of 11-year-old Cash Klem, a Sussex County boy with cerebellar ataxia who suffers from sudden loss of mobility.

“We’re proud and honored to support those who put their lives on the line for all of us - day in and day out,” said Vincent Sangemino, general manager of the Sussex County Miners. “Softball and baseball are team sports, just like community-building is a team sport. We all need to do our part to strengthen and support our communities.”

Officials said Rougeau Jr., 29, was killed in a shootout after a suspect arrived at a Pennsylvania State Patrol post building on June 17 armed with a rifle, and began firing at patrol cars. Wagner, 45, was also critically injured and has since been discharged.

The Miners also signed New Jersey Detective I Miguel Hidalgo for a one-day commitment, and he became the first active-duty trooper to sign a professional baseball contract.

Hidalgo will donate the proceeds of his salary, and any slugging bonuses, to the Klem family so they may buy Cash a new wheelchair.

His hitting bonuses are as follows, according to the Miners' front office: $50 for walks and stolen bases, $100 for singles, $200 for doubles, $300 for triples and $400 for any home runs.

Tickets are available, starting at $20, and are valid for both the 4 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. games.

The charity softball game will also feature honor guards, mascots, bagpipe bands, motorcycle units, and a helicopter flyover, and a New Jersey State Police colonel throwing out the first pitch. It is also "Thirsty Thursdays" night at the ballpark, with $1 draft beers, $2 hot dogs and sodas, and $3 imports, according to the Miners.