Clowns go head-to-head with military in softball game

POINT PLEASANT BEACH — Active, reserve and retired members of the military brought their A-game to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in Burlington County last Friday, Sept. 20, as a gaggle of clowns descended on the base for the annual Clowns vs. Military Softball Game.

The veterans committee of the Point Pleasant Elks Lodge has sponsored this event for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in Lakehurst for a few years, with each year seeing more military players and more clowns facing off in a silly but entertaining game. While no score was kept, this did not stop some members from bringing their competitive spirit.

Nancy DeVito, chair of the veterans committee of the Elks, who also goes by “Antsy the Clown,” told The Ocean Star this whole event was possible through a grant the committee received from Elks Grand Lodge.

“We received a grant from Grand Lodge to perform the ball game for our military families,” said DeVito.

This event saw dozens of active duty members with their families come to one of the ballfields on the base. Individuals were fed plenty of hot dogs, chips, sodas, juices and plenty of other “ball game” food. The fun culminated in a three-inning game.

Many members of the military had fun going up against the clowns as exploding gags balls were thrown, or bases were literally stolen off the field, preventing runners from taking bases. Ultimately, this game was for the whole family, with many military kids running the bases and taking a few swings at bat as the clowns tripped and bounced off each other, often meeting a cacophony of laughs from the opposing dugout and the bleachers.

Joseph Traynoski, 514th Maintenance Group commander, told The Ocean Star, “The Elks Lodge has been a great partner of the whole wing for a really long time. This is one of the events they take part of every year. We have some folks from active duty and reserve sides, everyone is participating. It is for the community and we want to support the people who support us.”

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