SPIAGGIA vs. SPIAGGIA in Honor of Sally Germano

The much anticipated softball game between the Spiaggia Bombers and the girls rec team (also sponsored by Spiaggia) took place before a standing-room-only crowd at Brackman Field.

Our town officials were well represented. Mayor Jeff Melchiondo, Deputy Mayor Al Cirulli, Committeeman Al Bille were in attendance while Committeeman Marty Lisella played third base for the Bombers. This game was played in honor of Sally Germano and will be a yearly event. 

The pregame ceremony was very touching as the mayor along with girls manager Denise Pilovsky and Bomber coach Joe Germano tossed out first pitches. John Germano was among those doing the catching.

We would also like to thank John Germano for having the field manicured to perfection. John also was our guest umpire; Mets jersey aside he did a great job behind the plate.

Thanks also to John Serpico — AKA The Boss — owner of Spiaggio's, the official restaurant of the Mirage.

THE TEAMS:

1. John Vaccarello, Pat Pipi, Marty Lisella, John Arena,Tino,Dom Pugliese, Joe Germano, Rich Zaccagna, Robin Greenwald, Ben LoScalzo, Charlie Thomas, Bill Farmer, Lou Traficante, Artie Posillipo and Joe Feeny.
2. Marissa Stadtmauer, Gabriela Farley, Carly Sherlock, Mackenzie Darmstatter, Alexis Kappmeier, Alyssa Rockhill, Krystan Kaczmarek, Tara Jackson, Amber Leary, Holly Walker and Roxy Urso.

PLAY BALL:

The girls were a bit nervous at the beginning and it showed on the score board as the Bombers took a 10-0 lead after two.

At that point an average team would have folded their tents and went home, but Denise settled the girls down, order was quickly restored and the girls got back to doing what they do best.

The Bombers have a history of always getting out early but for some reason yet to be explained to this reporter have trouble closing teams out; today was no different.

The girls turned a nifty double play to end the third and it seemed to lift both their spirits and confidence. The girls began to chip away as they scored two in the fifth, the Bombers came back with three in their half and both teams exchanged two runs in the sixth, after six the Bombers had a comfortable 15-5 lead.

THE SEVENTH BEGINS

Up to that point it was a ho-hum game but things started to heat up in the seventh.

Prior to the seventh the rules were that we pitched arc ball to ourselves and the girls pitched windmill to themselves; beginning the seventh we switched.

The Bombers tried and the key word is tried to hit the windmill but save a couple of singles the boys were completely shutdown, the girls managed to score a few off our arc but in the end the Sally Germano Trophy will spend it's first year in the care of the Mirage Clubhouse.

The girls played a great game, they were well coached and were great sports.

The ages of the players were as young as 12 and as old as 78.

Today's game was a win-win, not only for the two teams involved but for the entire town of Barnegat.

John Germano promised that next year the Sally Germano Memorial Game would be hosted at the Barnegat High School Field.

In the end it was great fun for both the Bombers and the Girls.

Sally would have been both happy and proud of the camaraderie and sportsmanship shown on that field today. I am sure she was looking down on the field with that smile we all remember.

                       Angels are everywhere, To see them one must look with the heart.