Lions Step Up To The Plate In Strike Out For Austism Challenge

Photo above: Steven Davis and Alex Savage throw out the first pitch in Saturday's Strike Out Austism Challenge

MIDDLETOWN – Back in 2013 former Central Regional All-Shore player Jerry Frulio began what is now a Shore-wide phenomenon known as the Strike Out Autism Challange with a couple of baseball games at two different sites (Central and Wall) to benefit kids with autism.

Six years later, the Strike Out for Autism Challenge has expanded to 12 different sites around the Shore Conference featuring 48 baseball and 20 softball teams from around the state.

After graduating from Central Regional, Frulio played in the NCAA College Baseball Super Regionals while at George Mason University. He then went on to have success as head coach at both Central Regional and St. Rose before taking over as the head of the Central Regional Autism Awareness Club which is the beneficiary of the proceeds of Saturday’s events.

In the past two years alone the Strike Out Autism Challenge has raised more than $50,000 as it continues to grow in popularity year-after-year.

Up until two years ago the Strike Out Autism Challenge was primarily a baseball event with only one softball game included in the fundraiser. However, Frulio wanted to expand the event to include more softball teams so he contacted Middletown North softball head coach Chris Hoffman to see is he would be interested in getting involved.

Hoffman played baseball at Toms River East under head coach Bill Frank, who retired in 2014 with 520 wins, in the mid 90’s and Frulio was Hoffman's coach in the summer leagues while playing American Legion ball, so their relationship goes way back.

“Once I got to Middletown I started teaching a new special education program and Jerry contacted me saying they wanted to get softball more involved in the Strike Out Autism Challenge,” said Hoffman. “So I said to Jerry ‘how about instead of softball teams playing at different sites let me see if I can get a big chunk of games over at our place and kind of make it an event.’

“So I did it last year at our place and it was super successful and we did again this year, obviously, and we’re going to do it every year and hopefully expand it. I’d like to maybe get Middletown South involved and put a bunch of games over there and kind off make it a Middletown event.”

This year Hoffman brought in 16 softball teams to Middletown North to play eight games throughout the day, including his own team that is ranked fourth in the state, and beat Allentown 11-1 to remain undefeated at 8-0.

The marque game on Saturday’s schedule was a matchup between two state powerhouses, No. 2 Saint John Vianney and No. 17 Immaculate Heart Academy, who last year won the Tournament of Champions to finish ranked No. 1 in the state.

The Lancers beat IHA 7-3 to remain undefeated scoring two runs in the third inning and five in the fifth to push their record to 6-0.

Saint John Vianney head coach Kim Lombardi knows the significance of the Strike Out Autism Challenge.

“I’m a special education teacher in middle school and this kind of fundraiser is absolutely amazing,” said Lombardi. “Coach Hoffman always does a great job in all the events he holds. My nephew has a genetic disorder with a spectrum of autism, so for me it touches home and it’s a really nice event to be part of.”

Lancer senior center fielder and Monmouth University commit Lindsey Baron, who went 3-for-4 with a triple, run scored and an outfield assist that saved a run Saturday, knows the importance Saturday’s event as well.

“The Strike Out Autism Challenge is personal to my heart,” said Baron. “My best friend’s brother has autism, so coming out and playing for this cause, winning, and having such an amazing game really means a lot to me too. I played for my best friend’s brother and everyone else who’s fighting autism.”

“We had 20 softball teams all together playing Saturday, so if we could maybe double that number next year I think that would be great,” said Hoffmann. “I’m an assistant basketball coach at North too and January 20 we did the same event for basketball and raised a bunch of money giving the winning team Galaxy tablets to bring back to their special education programs. Coach Frulio has been donating IPads to schools in Ocean County and they’re donating money to build a complex for autistic kids in Toms River so that’s the type of things the proceeds are going to.

“I tried to call all the coaches I’ve known through the years and I know that they would do anything to help out. It’s just a good cause to get everyone together to support each other and that’s what it’s all about.”

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