The Spiaggia Bombers Continue to Bridge the Gap

In a continuing effort to bring all our communities together, the Spiaggia Bombers along with Barnegat's softball commissioner Tony Frigone organized a game Saturday between a team from his mixed league and the Bombers.

Representing the Mixers were a great bunch of youngsters. The guess here is that their average age would be around 19 years old. They were: John Frigone, Nicole Cholish, Kenny Fogarty, Crystal Jone, Tony Frigone, Cristie Groff, Robbie Gunell, Jill Wambach, Tiffany Peschill and Anthony Conners.

Representing the Bombers were a great bunch of seniors. The guess here is that their average age would be around 66 years old.

John Vaccarello, Tino Ianacone, John Arena, Dom Pugliese, Pat Pipi, Joe Germano, Marty Lisella,Bob Perfilio, Jay Lomberk, Frank Scuorzo, Charlie Thomas, Mike Pappas, Artie Posillipo, Ben Lo Scalzo and Joe Feeny.

Mirage President Linda Kropf, a big Bomber fan, was also in attendance, as usual, camera in hand.

This game was endorsed by our Mayor Jeff Melchiondo and Committeemen Marty Lisella and Al Bille. Marty plays third base for the Bombers while the Mayor and Al took time out of their schedules to throw out today's first pitches. Al Cirulli could not attend but sent along his best wishes.

All three wished both teams good luck and also commended both the Bombers and Tony for putting this game together. "We hope the rest of our town joins with us in congratulating Tony and the Mirage for making these games happen, our hope is that they will continue for a long time to come." Our prediction is that other towns will soon pick up the tradition set here today.

With a 47-year-per-man age difference in favor of the Mixers, this game looked like a mismatch from the word go.

The Bombers play with a two-base limit and they hit with Gold Dot softballs while the mixers play all the bases you can get and they hit with a clincher softball. In consideration of the age differences, and rightly so, the Mixers conceded to the senior rules.

In warm-ups the Bombers watched in awe as the speed and power displayed by their younger opponents was well displayed.

"Oh to be 18 again," said Charlie. "It looks like we bit off more than we can chew this time," said Frank. "We could be in trouble." Youth must be served seemed to be the consensus.

 Joe Germano, ever the optimist never wavered. "I'm telling you guys, were gonna win." Joe says that before every game. He is usually right.

PLAY BALL.

The Bombers failed to score in their half of the first, in the bottom half the Sixers score one but leave runners stranded on second and third.

In the second the Bombers then started to live up to their names. They score five in the second, four in the third, three in the fourth and so it went. The ageless wonders were also on their game defensively and it reflected in the final score of 20-6 in favor of Spiaggia's.

The senior softball Gods must have been looking down as it seemed all the balls hit by the Bombers found holes and all the balls hit by the Mixers were at-em balls.

"All seniors can take note of what happened here today, it's never too late." said Miss D, head of the Mirage groupies.

The Mixers immediately asked for a rematch, the Bombers immediately accepted. In the next game, mix league rules will apply.

Tony, as usual did a great job behind the plate and special thanks to John Germano for dressing the field.

There were no losers here today, said Tony. "The big winners are the people of Barnegat, anyone who can't see that has my sympathy." Tony vows to keep these games going.

 The Bombers next game is Monday afternoon in Waretown followed by another tough game against a much younger Vandyk group (35-45) late on Wednesday afternoon.

Bill, a Bomber fan asked a question, don't you guys ever rest long enough to let the wounds heal?

The answer here was, "at our ages we ain't got time to bleed."

Passion's footprints are all over the road to success.