From the editor
With spring in the air, children across South Jersey are grabbing their bats and mitts and heading to the ballfield — some returning for another season, others stepping onto the field for the very first time.
Parents and grandparents fill the bleachers, cheering them on and marveling at how quickly time passes. It often feels like just yesterday they — or their children — were standing on that same field. In this issue of Shore Local, David Weinberg captures that sense of nostalgia, reflecting on generations of families sharing the game (see page 68).
With two older brothers who excelled at sports, especially baseball, I often joke that I grew up at the ballfield. As a kid, I was an average player at best, but I loved everything about the ballpark. I spent hours at the snack stand with friends, seeing how many pieces of penny bubble gum I could fit in my mouth or who could blow the biggest bubble. We ran along the edges of the field playing tag, hide-and-seek, and catching fireflies as the sun went down. Those simple evenings remain some of my most cherished memories.
In high school, my brother Tom was a standout pitcher, often featured on the front of the sports section in our local paper. That inspired my softball coach to suggest I give pitching a try — maybe it was in my genes. After a few wild throws that sailed over the backstop, that idea was quickly dismissed. Tom went on to pitch in college, while, as my dad liked to joke, I “majored in sorority.” The love of the game clearly carried on, though. Tom’s son pitched at La Salle University, and now his 3-year-old grandson is already swinging big in tee ball.
One of the most inspiring ballfields I have experienced is the South Jersey Field of Dreams in Absecon, a league designed for children with physical and developmental disabilities. The sense of joy, encouragement and kindness that fills that field is something truly special. It has a way of shifting your perspective and reminding you what sports — and community — are really about. Turn to pages 22-23 for a look at this year’s opening day.
In the end, it is not about the specific sport. It is about belonging, teamwork and the shared experience. Getting outside this time of year is an added bonus, even if it sometimes means sitting through chilly early-season games. Those cold afternoons, too, become part of the memory.
Whether you are watching your child take their first swing or reminiscing about your own days on the diamond, there is something timeless about the ballpark that brings people together. Here’s to a season of sunny days, cheering crowds and the simple joy of the game. Let’s play ball!
Peace & Love,
Cindy
