Baseball Block Party Celebrates 15 Years of Success

Over 350 people attended a recent baseball block party -- to celebrate their 2010 state championship -- and every other title over the last fifteen years, of which there have been many.

Current and former players, as well as parents and friends came from miles around for a chance to reminisce about the big games and renew old friendships. Everyone brought food and the Brother John Brown Band, a local favorite, was on-hand to entertain all in attendance.

"We decided to throw a block party to celebrate the last fifteen years of Cranford baseball," said Cranford High School baseball coach Dennis McCaffery, who organized the event. "I was told that we won more games in the last fifteen years than any team in Union County and were one of the winningest public schools in the state of New Jersey during that time."

Over the last twelve years alone, the Cougars have captured six county crowns, seven sectional titles and twelve conference championships dating back to 1996. 

"I've always said to the kids, that we would have a pretty good bash if we ever won a state championship," McCaffery added. "What I explained to this years team was, yes we had a party, but it wasn't to celebrate you winning. It was to celebrate the last 15 years of kids who have set the bar at a certain level where that is an expectation and reality every year – to be able to compete for a conference, county and state championship, and that is what we tell the kids every year. That is the expectation. That you're going to compete and hopefully win those three titles every year. 

As always, McCaffery deferred to the guys on the field when talking about his teams' success.

"The key has been good players," he noted. "There's a system, there's a mindset and there's an atmosphere and expectation here. The Little League is outstanding -- they do a great job, and they're committed. You have guys like Bob Bruns, Dave Drechsel, Kevin Weatherall and Howard Ruud -- and these guys just give up so much of their time. The kids come to us and they've been well-groomed. There's a certain way that we do things and a certain expectation that you're going to be able to handle yourself on and off the field. You have to be able to be disciplined, committed, and it's a year-round effort." 

The Cranford High School band also played, and a former alumnus played the bagpipes. All in all, it was another night to remember for the CHS baseball program. 

Check out the photo gallery of the Cranford Baseball Block Party.