WALL TOWNSHIP — The Wall High School Baseball Hall of Fame held its annual golf outing this past Tuesday afternoon, continuing its efforts to fundraise for the school’s baseball team, as its been doing for the last two decades.
Eighty two former alumni and baseball players took to Jumping Brook Country Club, in Neptune, for a day of food, golf, celebration and camaraderie. Starting at noon, the clubhouse served as a pregame for the golfers, who hit the course for 18 holes at 1:30 p.m.
“This is my first time doing this, I just moved back to New Jersey after 25 years,” said John Padula, Class of 1987, who played center field for the high school team. “This is really awesome…I saw my friends (from high school) on social media and thought ‘It would be great to play with those guys again.’”
For $250, golfers would get said food and round of golf provided, along with a goodie bag from the hall of fame and a two-hour open bar. The entire course was closed for the event, according to organizer and half of fame committee member Gene Ertle, who graduated from Wall in 1976.
The event also had prizes for first and second place; golfers for longest drive, shot closest to the pin on the green and a putting competition.
“This is our 21st year doing this. Every year since we’ve started, we add on to our hall of fame,” he said. This time around, however, the hall of fame went without an individual inductee; instead, the 1994 (30th anniversary) and 2004 (20th anniversary) state championship teams were honored during the dinner that followed the outing.
“We usually also give out a scholarship to one of the (players),” Ertle added. “They have to write a little resume on why they love Wall baseball and what their aspirations are.” Despite not having a scholarship recipient this year, the goal of fundraising for the team remained the same.
Such improvements the hall of fame has raised funding for includes, according to Ertle, new dugouts, a $25,000 scoreboard, installed electricity, irrigation system, dirt for the varsity team’s field, paid summer coaches, trips to Florida for spring training and team t-shirts, shorts and jackets. The high school team plays its games at the school’s athletic complex, located on 18th Avenue.
This is an excerpt of the print article. For more on this story, read The Coast Star —on newsstands Thursday or online in our e-Edition.
This is an excerpt of the print article. For more on this story, read The Coast Star —on newsstands Thursday or online in our e-Edition.
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