Students, Parents Push For Middle School Baseball Team In Hillsborough

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Students, parents and a local coach urged the school board to consider creating a middle school baseball team.

Township Committeeman Robert Britting introduced himself as "a father and a coach" of the Raiders Middle School baseball club during public comment at the Hillsborough Township Board of Education meeting on Monday.

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He noted the players "really, really do believe that middle school baseball is a very important feature to their growth and development as young men."

Several students described what baseball has meant to them and why they want to continue playing for their school.

Britting's son Robbie, who has been playing baseball since he was four years old, told the board, "Baseball is one of my favorite sports and it has been a very important part of my life."

He noted that he has been playing for the Hillsborough Raiders since he was in kindergarten.

"Over the years, I have met my best friends through baseball and together we have created so many great memories," said Robbie.

He added that their team has won two state championships two years in a row.

"I am proud of the team we have become and I would love the opportunity to continue baseball in Hillsborough. When I get to middle school, it would be very disappointing if I were to have to break up simply because there is no middle school baseball team," said Robbie.

He continued that "Baseball has taught me about teamwork, dedication, sport, and never giving up. I want to continue building team memories and representing Hillsborough on the baseball field during those school years."

Ari Shah, who also plays with the Hillsborough Raiders travel team, told the board, "I think we should have a middle school baseball team because all the towns surrounding us have a middle school baseball team."

Daniel Campbell said, "Starting a middle school baseball team will keep Hillsborough's best players playing for Hillsborough. Without it, kids will have to play for other teams at other towns."

Another student, identified himself as a seventh-grade student at Hillsborough Middle School and said he has been playing baseball since he was five years old.

He noted that he and some other teammates are are no longer eligible to play rank teams.

"But the opportunity to represent our school and compete as HMS Raiders against other middle schools... would be amazing and mean a lot to all of us. For what it's worth, we are a damn good baseball team," said the student.

One parent read a letter from her son, an eighth-grade student: "When I reached middle school, there wasn't a school baseball program, so I had to join a travel organization in another town to keep playing."

He also said, "Bringing back middle school baseball would give more students the chance to keep playing the sport they grew up, regardless of their family's circumstances."

Britting later asked the district to consider Hillsborough baseball for the 2027 spring season and said he had submitted "a proposal for the establishment of a Hillsborough middle school baseball program."

He also said parents had discussed forming a booster club to help with some costs.

No decision was made by the board at the meeting.

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