The Frankie and Friends Baseball Tournament, played for the second year in memory of Frankie Caltabilota Jr., will become an annual event, organizers said.
Above: Pat O’Neill, of the Blue Devils, applies a tag at first base. Pat played with Frankie Caltabilota Jr. as a youngster and throughout high school. Tournament organizers Dominick Mazza (l-r) and Andrew Meisner with Frankie’s parents, Joanne and Frank Caltabilota. DOMINICK MAZZA The tourney organized by friends and family of the popular West Long Branch youth who died in a fire at Seton Hall University in 2000, resumed play May 1 on Frankie Caltabilota Jr. Field at Valenzano Park.
Rain forced the April 25 games to be cancelled, but good weather allowed the tourney to wrap up.
Second-day highlights included two home runs by Frankie’s former team, the West Long Branch Blue Devils, which helped them win their third game, a pitchers’ duel for much of the battle between the Jackson Reds and Monmouth County Thunder followed by a well-played championship between the Devils and the Thunder.
In the end, the Thunder repeated as tournament champs by defeating the Devils, 4-2.
The tournament MVP was awarded to Matt Wein, whose home run in the championship put the Thunder ahead for the win. This was the first year an MVP was awarded. Frank Caltabilota Sr., father of Frankie, chose Matt as the player who most exemplified his late son on and off the field with his enthusiasm, sportsmanship and performance, according to a press release from organizers.
Not only did the tournament honor the memory of a friend, family member and teammate, it also raised money for the Frank Caltabilota Jr. Scholarship Fund, which is awarded to local students each year.
Support for the tournament grew in the amount of the donations as well as the number of people coming out to the field, the press release states. Local businesses showed their support by making monetary donations and supplying refreshments for the players and supporters. Organizers said the success of the tournament in its second year has solidified the occasion as an annual event.
The Caltabilota family and tournament organizers thanked sponsors, volunteers, umpires and the family and friends who supported the tournament. For more information, email Andrew Meisner at andrew. [email protected].