Senator Steps up to the Plate at Blackwood Bat Shop

Gloucester Township custom baseball bat makers, whose generosity helped victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, are a "great Camden County story," U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D) said Monday. 

New Jersey's senior senator stopped at three Camden County businesses to promote local economic growth brought on by small business owners.

Menendez's second stop was at Victus Sports on Lower Landing Road in Blackwood. The company specializes in making custom baseball bats for players from Little League to Major League Baseball. The senator lauded Victus for its success as a small business in Camden County, as well as charitable donations to victims of the Boston bombings in April.

"I wanted to showcase a growing New Jersey business which has a very unique niche, which New Jersey should be proud of," said Menendez.

Victus co-owner Jared Smith met with Menendez, and was pleased with the appreciation of his company's work, success and charity.

Shortly after the terrorist bombing attacks at the Boston Marathon in April, Victus gave several bats to the Boston Red Sox. Outfielder Jonny Gomes used the Victus bats during a game, and they were later auctioned off, bring in roughly $10,000 in donations for the victims of the attack.

"The fact that we were able to do what we did for Boston really meant a lot to us, but to get some recognition for it just shows that when you do the right things, it always ends up paying dividends in the end," Smith said.

"They're ball players making bats for ball players," said Menendez. "That's an incredibly passionate story, bringing to life in a way that grows business and creates opportunity. It's a great Camden County story."

Menendez used his visit to Camden County to discuss issues as well. He made a stop at the Flying Fish Brewery in Somerdale to promote his craft beer legislation that would "give tax breaks to microbreweries that create real business opportunities and real jobs in our state."

Menendez also stopped at LEAP Academy's STEM campus in Camden, and met with students chosen for a special educational opportunity in partnership with MAFCO Worldwide, a Camden business and the world's largest manufacturer of licorice extract.