Dads Club sponsors dinner to honor RPHS softball champs

The Roselle Park Dads Club was proud to sponsor and attend a dinner to honor the 2018 Roselle Park High School softball Group I state champions on September 23 at Costa’s.

The girls received their championship rings at the dinner. Madison Hummel and Merissa Gilic received plaques to recognize their selections to the Group I All-State first team. Hailey Ortega and Sarah Lippan were named to second-team all-state Group I.

The team was also treated to a poem by Stephen J. deWolfe, which put all of this great team’s accomplishments to prose. The full contents are below.

Once again, congrats to the champs! And a big thank you to those who put the dinner together.

ALSO READ: Dads Club members wanted

For all of us to be here took no great persuasion
To celebrate our season on this occasion.
As a team we played for Roselle Park’s glory,
We’re known as the “Panthers”, and this is our story.

In the wild, each panther is a lonely creature,
Each different, with black color the common feature.
On the diamond, we each brought our skills to perform,
But with the same desires – and the same uniform.

How did we get here today? Some of you may ask.
It was a long season, but we were up to the task.
Our approach had just one principle at its core:
For us “Team” meant “Together, Everyone Achieves More”.

“Team” involved players, coaches, other supporters,
And, spreading the word, a stat keeper and reporters.
Of our overall record, there’s no mystery:
27 – 3, best in school history!

Our “spring training” actually took place last summer;
Giving up some vacation?  Not a big bummer,
For without that time learning the “game within the game”,
Our regular season might not have been the same.

Mike coached games in rec league without school distractions,
And taught pitching, hitting, fielding, and base running actions.
During varsity season he wouldn’t get much ink
But was a secret “Swirz”zle (Mike Swirz) stick that stirred the team’s drink.

The league’s multiple teams and fields are far – reaching;
Three coaches assisted Mike in all of the teaching.
Ed (Hummel), Ray (Lippan), and Jason (Scott) each provided key reasons
The players would be ready for their spring seasons.

As important as pitchers, fielders, and batters,
Santhi (Lippan) managed the off – field financial matters:
Conducting the fund – raisers, writing the checks,
Managing project budgets, and clearing financial decks.

We oiled gloves and stored our gear as the weather grew colder;
Some of us grew taller, all of us a year older.
School, other sports, and fun remained priorities,
Right through holidays – and party frivolities!

Mid – March arrived; we eyed our calendars each day,
Counting the days until it was our time to play.
All that we needed came off hooks, hangers, and shelves;
Our go – bags were anxious; they seemed to fill by themselves!

Where we would first meet depended solely on weather;
Where we would go this year, we’d go there together.
We remembered former teammates’ stories and faces;
And we welcomed new teammates taking their places.

“Magg” Maggio was a coach we’d follow through hell;
He managed games – and our egos – equally well.
As well as with his ideas for team construction,
We followed each offense and defense instruction.

Jill Bury came up to assist from the JV;
Her insights and coaching helped us be all we could be.
She would not let us take the path of least resistance,
Thus helping us to persist for the long distance.

We’re proud of “Magg” and “Bury” who greeted us in March.
We practiced even when the weather was quite harsh.
They trained us in aspects both physical and mental;
The Panthers’ performance was not accidental.

They prepared us for our yearly prowl for bounty
On the softball diamonds throughout Union County.
For them we cheerfully took off our cherished bling
To better grip our metal bats – and sometimes feel their sting!

As the season moved on, and the days grew longer.
We grew both physically and mentally stronger.
We avoided any physical or emotional swoon
By maintaining focus as the months approached June.

Most games were on weekdays, so we played after school,
Then stayed up late to do homework; no problem, we’re cool!
Whether for practice or for games, it was needless to mention:
There had better be no Panthers caged in detention!

Other games fell on weekends, but only a few.
The Panthers played hard; we had partying to do!
Though before such a game no late hours were kept;
The Panthers could not say that they overslept!

For those weekend games, or after daily dismissal,
Our bus took us straight to the field like a missile.
We warmed up, then stretched, but our prep wasn’t done
Until we tested the base paths on which we would run.

Our primary pitcher was Maddie Hummel
With more K’s than innings as the strike zone she’d pummel!
But she was a more complete player than just that:
She hit over .400 when she came to bat!

The field general was Hailey, crouched behind home plate;
Less than two runs per game dared to cross her tollgate!
Despite her equipment, she had her share of aches;
Besides her catching, she earned second team DH!

While Emma, Madison and Lexi have different faces,
They share the same last name and covered all bases.
A grounder to third, with runner on first any day
Could result in a 5 – 4 – 3 “family” double play!

Our captain was Angelina, best known as “Ang”.
At the top of the diamond, she’s home on the range.
Don’t let the “Best Smile” in the yearbook fool you;
Her game face is serious, and her play will school you.

Paige, in left, had a dual role: that of mother hen,
Making sure we were where we needed to be – and when!.
Her offense and defense leave no cause to mock her.
This multi – sport athlete in college will play soccer.

Sarah, in center, fulfilled many a team need
With the best batting average, good arm, and great speed.
A student of the game, she’s mastered this key subject:
Hosting team parties to which parents can’t object!

Merissa in right field, in the yearbook, “Class Clown”,
Could always uplift us when we were feeling down,
But it was her speed, her bat, her glove and her arm
That earned her First Team – and kept us from harm.

Every successful team needs subs always ready
To step in and keep the team’s performance steady.
The Panthers had three who could pitch, field, hit, and run;
Box scores don’t always reflect the job they have done.

There was Gabrielle, “Gabby”, who could pitch and play first,
And Meaghan, who provided an all – around burst;
And Danielle, who came up for States when Gabby went down;
They all played a part in our team’s earning its crown.

A great regular season, 23 – 2,
13 – and 8 – game win streaks, with 11 shutouts, too,
Like Westfield 2 – 0, for our first County crown in years.
It was only for joy that our fans shed their tears.

On to the Sectionals, where we wanted to be,
And the Panthers played even more seriously.
We first shutout Brearly, 6 – 0, without a hit!
Belvidere fell, 7 – 2; they didn’t challenge a bit.

We then continued this year’s storied journey,
Having thus qualified for the State Champs tourney.
In the Group 1 Semis, in one of our tightest games,
We beat Cedar Grove’s best hurler, 2 – 1, in extra frames.

The Finals was Gloucester, a tough team to beat,
In the end, though, 4 – 3, with Maddie’s hit, Lexi’s run their defeat.
Lead changes and drama surely set a tense tone;
That game’s recap would deserve a page of its own!

We played with great dedication and mutual pride,
And with bumps and bruises; we were not afraid to slide.
When we played on turf wet from spring rains or dew,
We would just growl to each other, “This mud’s for you!”.

Every group has its leaders, but we won as a team.
When we encouraged each other, the coach’s eyes gleamed.
When our spirits were tested by foul moods or weather,
We Panthers would work out our problems together.

But there’s more to our team than just those who play;
Others had tasks to do on and between each game day.
They worked in the background to make sure we’d progress,
But they played a big part in the Panthers’ success.

There were schedules to set; our bus driven and tended;
Our trainer ensured our injuries were mended.
Groundskeepers worked hard at a job that is tough
To ensure our field was no “diamond in the rough”.

The baseball coaches provided the final piece,
As “Agoglia” and “Matthews” brought their expertise.
We appreciated their insights, ideas, and tweaks
As our season was entering its final weeks.

Our statistics were well – kept; our results well – reported.
Yes, Panthers fully realize how well we’re supported.
The support you have all shown is the same kind of love
That we show when rubbing neet’s foot oil on a glove.

The consistent presence of town fans at our games
Further heightened our already – competitive flames.
After Group 1’s, the whole town showed the essence of cool:
A horns, lights and sirens parade back to our school.

To each parent and sibling, to each coach and fan,
To all who consistently tell us, “You can!”,
For all your support, and for all else that you do,
We Panthers will always appreciate you!

Three Panthers are seniors, who may soon play in college,
But the team will not falter; rest secure in the knowledge
That with returnees and JV, there should be no fear.
There’ll be plenty of Panthers to prowl here next year!

© Stephen J. deWolfe, 2018