BY RAY ARROYO
SPECIAL TO PASCACK PRESS
The 4th Annual Detective Tyron D. Franklin Memorial Softball Tournament — between Westwood’s and Paterson’s police and fire departments — was a smaller event this year. Our volunteer fire department had a long-planned event that created an unavoidable scheduling conflict.
But civilian volunteers stepped up to prove that the show must go on.
At Westvale Park on Saturday, Sept. 18, Lebanon Baptist Church pastor JerQuentin Sutton — the tournament’s spiritual leader and Westwood’s right fielder — pulled his dormant glove from a shrink-wrapped plastic bag, much like King Arthur withdrawing Excalibur from the stone.
And his WPD team played royally, like kings, showing much early promise. Bats and gloves came alive in first game. WPD batters lined rope after rope, finding all the gaps in the PFD defense to take an early lead that they never relinquished.
WPD’s Sgt. John Hurtuk swung for the fences — his mighty rip sent the ball on a short ride, coming to rest a whopping 12 inches in front of the plate. Not really the kind of “tape measure shot” you brag about. More like one you spin as a brilliantly camouflaged “bunt.”
The sergeant took off from the batter’s box like it was a Friday before a long weekend and dove at the bag head first, with both arms fully extended — Superman-style — safe at first base by a whisker.
There were fielding gems, too: PO Chris Horst at shortstop with catlike reflexes timed his leap perfectly, and stabbed a rocket off the bat of a Paterson FD player. Anthony Pomo at third base made a similar grab on a missile ripped along the baseline denying PFD a certain double.
Lt. Mark Foley, sporting a distinctly diverse and sporty “throwback” look in his apparel choices (knee-length basketball shorts and baseball leggings), made a running/diving one-handed catch in short right center field, with base runners on, to end an inning.
And second baseman Sgt. Anthony Piccinich looked sharp as the middle man in a well turned and exciting 6-4-3 double play: Horst to Picinnich to Teehan.
WPD beat the PFD, 6-3, in the opener and confidence was running high. But alas, we got drubbed by PPD in the championship finale, 11-3, extending Paterson’s 4-0 dynastic record in the annual Tyron D. Franklin Memorial Tournament.
This year, detective Franklin’s parents, Belinda Howard and Larry Franklin, along with his sister, Bevennia Marks, gifted the players commemorative caps. Bavennia, now a Paterson police officer, goes to work every day with her brother’s badge number — 4637 — pinned over her heart. She threw out the tournament’s first pitch for the second year in a row. She must have been practicing because she nailed it!
Piccinch, Pastor Sutton, and Belinda spoke passionately about losing Tyron — and fretfully about the work law enforcement and fire service members continue to do in today’s emotionally charged and divisive climate.
In the sergeant’s words, the work of first responders “is more a calling than a job.”
Every person on the field, and in the stands, was there to honor our fallen native son Paterson Detective Tyron D. Franklin, and to show deep appreciation and gratitude for his peers working every day to keep us safe. We know that we can all sleep more easily at night because of them.
So congratulations, Paterson PD. Thank you and the Paterson FD members who gave up your weekend to come to Westwood and make this tournament an event we all look forward to each year.
Thanks to Lettie, your colorful, trash-talking, entertaining play-by-play commentator and scorekeeper. We love her.
Thanks to the players from the Westwood Men’s Softball League: Jay Garcia, Chris Ennico, Anthony Pomo, Jay Rottino, and Tyler Cronin. They all filled in ably for our WWVFD.
Thanks to the umpires, including Westwood’s own eagle-eyed Yash Risbud. Eric Steinberg and John Gentile were behind the plate and generously donated their fees to the cause.
Thanks to Father Rich Kelly, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Rochelle Park, for his generous donation — and for his parishioner Anna Petrillo’s lovely rendition of our national anthem.
Thanks to the local restaurants that donated the delicious repast, and to Lady Diane, Debbie, Celeste, Miriam, Amanda, Belinda, Tiesa and NaRiah: the beautiful women of Lebanon Baptist Church who served it up.
Thanks to my council colleagues — Christopher Montana, Robert Bicocchi, Erin Collins, Beth Dell, Cheryl Hodges, and Jodi Murphy — every one of whom showed up in support of this event.
Thanks to Council President Beth Dell, who secured the event insurance, served the grub, and stuck around to help with the clean up! (She’s a hands-on council president!)
Thanks also to Montana, who chauffeured Stephanie Wilhelm and Sue Swift, two of our local seniors, to and from the event. These ladies really wanted to attend and had a great time!
Thanks to Police Chief Michael Pontillo, who attended back-to-back local tournaments this weekend and last [at the first annual Haydn S. Smith Basketball Tournament], supporting his community despite a busy off-duty schedule with his wife and three young daughters.
And to WWPD Deputy Chief Jay Hutchinson for sacrificing a Saturday that was perfectly made for “pontooning,” but who chose instead to come out in support of his department’s outstanding community based initiative.
Thanks to Paramus PD Officer in Charge of Community Affairs Lt. James Teehan for holding down first base duties.
Thanks to WPD Dispatcher Alyssa “Liz” Bobadilla and to trusted WPOs Joe Pavone, Ryan Sestanovich, and
Stephanie Laurent for food transport. (It all arrived intact — with no nibbles.)
Thanks to the local merchants who provided raffle prizes. And thanks again to DJ Chris Speights.
And for all the Westwood residents who came out to show support including retired WWPD chief Robert Burroughs, WWPD reserve capt. emeritus Mayo Credle, Lou and Toni Ann Migliore (of Bugging Out), Tina and Sheldon Jackson, Daniel “Mickey” Ricciardella, Lois Durden Bent, Frank and Susanne Nobile, Joan Gardner, and Dolores Barksdale.
Thanks to WWVAC members 1st Lt. Matt Foley, 2nd Lt. Nicole De Joie, Jeri Bowman, Nolan Foley and Rush Sherman. They brought the rig, watched over everyone’s health and safety, and pitched in to help as needed.
Thanks to the WPD members Michael Fortunate, Detective Sean Roche, Dean McCarroll, and Danielle Neuberger for their on-and-off-the-field efforts at making Westwood proud of our police department.
And a special thank you to the WPOA and WPD’s Sgt. Anthony Piccinich. Westwood’s police officers, firefighters and ambulance corps volunteers are the salt of the earth. Their dedication to our community is deeply appreciated by this mayor and council — and by everyone we represent.
Westwood might be the physical and commercial “Hub of the Pascack Valley.” But it is our people, generous of spirit, coming together to celebrate our community’s finest hours — and who lift each other up during our darkest ones — who make the wheel go ‘round.
— The author is mayor of the Borough of Westwood