Clockwise from to left: Mary Rose is the first to audition during the Lakewood Blue Claws national anthem tryouts at the Monmouth Mall on March 28. Allie Beckman plays “The Star-Spangled Banner” on her flute. Carly Sica waits for her cue See the video: from the judges. PHOTOS BY NICOLE ANTONUCCI In a scene reminiscent of “American Idol,” auditioners lined up last week for the chance to belt out “The Star-Spangled Banner” at a Lakewood BlueClaws game.
The national anthem tryouts for the upcoming baseball season were held at the Monmouth Mall on March 28, where more than 50 hopefuls of varying ages performed in front of a panel of three judges, vying for one of the 15 spots available .“ I always wanted to sing at the BlueClaws,” Joe Sramaty, 20, Forked River, said, adding that although the anthem is difficult, he wasn’t nervous. “I have sung this at multiple places, but I always wanted to sing at a [Blue Claws] game.”
Carly Sica, 11, of Manahawkin, already fulfilled that dream last year, but that did not stop her from trying out again.
“I sang at the June 6, 2011, game,” she said.
However, unlike her confident competitor, Carly admitted that she was still slightly nervous .“ I was nervous right before I sang,” she said, “though I was more nervous last year.”
Upon arriving at the auditions, each person checked in and received a numbered card and a goody bag filled with coupons.
Then the auditioners lined up in number order around a small circular area that served as a staged area for the event.
Each took a turn, with the judges rating them on a scale of one to five based on confidence, style, correct lyrics and whether the anthem was sung on key.
In addition to the scorecard, each judge was looking for that special quality that would set the performance apart from the others.
“I want someone who is going to wow the 600 fans that are in attendance at one of our games,” judge Adam Giardina said.
Judges Devon Haloway and Andrew Pittman were looking for confidence.
“I want someone with some energy, excitement, someone who will just have fun with it, an entertainer at heart, which I know many of these kids are,” Pittman said.
According to Lisa Carone, director of inside sales for the Lakewood Blue Claws, the winners would be selected at a later date but would ultimately be chosen by the judges, who are employees of the minor league team, an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.
“Anyone who does not make the cut will be kept on file, in case we have an opening in any of the 70 spots,” she said, adding that there are 70 home games.
Everyone who auditions is a contender, regardless of age or rendition of the musical score.
“One year, we had a 4-year-old trumpet player and another year an elderly gentleman sang,” Carone said. “There are a lot of talented people out there.” Each person made the anthem his or her own, including 11-year-old Allie Beekman, of Neptune, who performed it on her flute.
“I have been playing the flute since last year and it’s something I am good at,” she said. “I think it would be much harder to sing, at least for me.”
Some decided to show their abilities in a group, like Brick residents Tommy Gedrich, 12, Hannah Scarpelli, 13, and Brittany Byrne, 13. “We thought it would be fun to team up,” they said after the audition. “We like playing with different harmonies.”
Some say that Francis Scott Key’s masterpiece is one of the most difficult songs to perform, but that was far from the mind of Mary Rose, 9, of Ocean Gate, who was the first one to step in front of the judges.
“I like singing it,” she said. “It makes me feel strong.”