Eden Catches on with Newark Bears

For Hillsborough-native Eric Eden, it doesn't get much better than this.

After playing ball at Western Illinois University for two years, and then a year with the Laredo (Texas) Broncos of the United League, the 2005 Hillsborough graduate is back in the Garden State, pitching for the Newark Bears.

"It worked out perfectly," Eden said. "This is much better than pitching in Texas."

Eden has a 3-2 record with a 4.87 ERA, in eight starts as a member of the Can-Am League team in Newark.

Eden was in talks with Major League teams leaving Western Illinois, but a shoulder injury hampered his chances of being drafted. He, instead, caught on as a pitcher in Laredo, at the suggestion of the Boston Red Sox.

For Eden, pitching in Texas-- despite having pitched in Illinois and Florida in college-- was quite a culture shock.

"We called it 'North Mexico' there," he said.

The New York Mets suggested Eden sign on with the Bears, which also allowed Eden to serve as Hillsborough High School's pitching coach in 2011.

Playing in New Jersey also allows his parents-- who still live in Hillsborough-- the opportunity to watch all his starts, as well as, some of his former teammates and high school coach, Norm Hewitt.

"There have been a lot of people from Hillsborough who have come out and supported me," he said. "It's awesome."

For Eden, the opportunity to play baseball is something that he's enjoyed and something he wants to keep doing.

"I'm going to play until someone tells me I can't," Eden said. "I'm fortunate I still have the opportunity to."