PARK RIDGE, N.J.—Youth sports and rec teams are making waves this summer, bringing home two major championships and a renewed sense of community pride.
The borough’s 3rd/4th grade girls softball team and 8U boys travel baseball team both completed undefeated seasons en route to league titles. Their achievements were recognized by Mayor Keith Misciagna and the Borough Council at the June 24 council meeting, where players and coaches from both squads received certificates of recognition.
“These young athletes are what Park Ridge is all about—talent, teamwork, and heart,” said Misciagna. “We’re so proud of their accomplishments.”
8U Boys Win NEBAS Baseball Title
Park Ridge’s 8U Boys Travel Baseball team also stormed through their season, in a dramatic final flurry against the Emerson 8U Cavos 8U, 1-0, capturing the NEBAS League championship. (In walk-off fashion in the bottom of the sixth, beams head coach Greg Waters.)
The team was recognized alongside the softball team at the June 24 Borough Council meeting.
Waters told Pascack Press on June 25, “Having an undefeated season is a tremendous achievement and proof that hard work and dedication pays off. This group has a bright future on the field, but more importantly, they are all great kids off the field. We are a tight knit-club, and I’m proud of what they accomplished together.”
Coaches: Greg Waters, Head Coach, with assistant coaches Sean Sharkey, Patrick Powers, Josh Quinones, and Nishant Shah. Players: #7 David Betancourt Jr., #99 Mason Cantamessa, #2 Tyler Crisafulli, #9 Ronan Eck, #3 Alex Mercado, #19 Nicholas Powers, #25 Luke Quinones, #22 Samay Shah, #11 Connor Sharkey, #44 Santino Torres, #8 Leo Waters, and #1 William Whalen.
Softball Owls Go Undefeated, Take Kinderkamack Crown
The Park Ridge 3rd/4th Grade Girls Softball team posted a 13–0–1 record this season to claim the Kinderkamack Softball League championship. The league included 48 teams from 20 towns across the region.
The Owls clinched the title on June 11 with a 4–0 win over Tenafly at neutral Roosevelt Field in River Edge. The team’s strong pitching, solid defense, and timely hitting capped a perfect postseason and a standout year—the first championship at this level for Park Ridge in many years.
Coaches: Curt Briscoe, Head Coach, with assistant coaches Christin Apa, Jennifer Briscoe, Derek Piccini, Maria Spadaccini, and Eric Thunell. Players, grade 3: Emelia Apa, Averey Costantino, Ella Natoli, Orla Prager, Melanie Briscoe, Elizabeth Gill, Whitney Piccini, and Kelly Thunell. Grade 4: Carly Berube, Liliana Casella, Francesca Martin, Emily Briscoe, Emerson Keenan, and Liana Spadaccini.
