Tuesday’s celebrity softball game at the brand new City Park field was a huge success, with hundreds turning out to watch our hometown team take on the WFAN All-Stars, including Bernie Williams, Howard Johnson, Boomer Esiason, Anthony Mason, and other well-known athletes. In addition to being a ton of fun, the game also raised lots of money for the park.
As reported previously, this event was made possible by Craig Carton, the top-rated WFAN sports radio host and New Rochelle native. It was great to welcome Craig back to our community, and I had the pleasure of presenting both him and his co-host Esiason with keys to the city. Big thanks also to Commissioner of Parks & Rec Bill Zimmermann and former New Rochelle High football coach Harold Crocker for their terrific organizational work.
The game itself had a dramatic conclusion, with the New Rochelle team winning a come-from-behind victory in the bottom of the ninth. My personal contribution to this happy outcome was precisely zero; I threw out the ceremonial first pitch (which, fortunately, did not scrape the dirt), and then had the good sense to get off the field and let the real athletes play.
You can see plenty of photos in the media links from this post.
City Park promises to be one of the premier athletic facilities in the county, and it will be enjoyed by thousands of people for many years to come. What a great way to celebrate the opening of the field.