Special to Twin-Boro News

New Jersey Little League District 4 is hosting the 2008 Joe Graziano NJ Little League State Tournament this year, but baseball games are not the only thing that will be featured at Bergenfield’s Hickey Field complex late this month.

"This is exciting," said Bergenfield Little League President Ed Volmer. "The members are backing it and the kids are enthused. I love it."

"We are honored," added District 4 Administrator Cesare Papetti. "I am a Little League guy and to host the states is great."

"And Bergenfield has a great bunch of guys," he said. "It helps that they have hosted tournaments in the past."

Papetti and crew have big plans to make July 24 through July 28 truly memorable.

There will be some great games as the best New Jersey teams face off against one another to earn the right to move on to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament in Bristol, Conn., Aug. 1 through Aug. 11.

Two games are scheduled Friday and Saturday nights, and single games are slated for Sunday, Monday and, if necessary, Tuesday.

"Kids forget the honor of going to the Little League tournament," Papetti said. "To get out of your district and into the New Jersey regional and state tournament is very important.

"This is not a club team," he said. "These kids are from the same town, know each other and go to school together."

Throughout the weekend, there will be special events, like athletes’ autograph sessions, a Detroit Muscle Car Show with peer judging, a motorcycle demonstration and show, demonstrations by the Bergenfield Fire Department and Bergenfield Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and dance and band shows.

The Merchandise Mart will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. And there will be plenty of stuff to eat courtesy of the food vendors over the weekend, and the Bergenfield Little League snack stand on the weekdays.

In addition, a home run hitting contest is scheduled on nearby Staunton Field at 11 a.m. Saturday.

"Volunteers from other towns are helping out," said Volmer. "Our own people are helping get the field ready."

The Challenger Division will play two games Sunday, enabling these special kids to participate in the state tournament festivities. Challenger Division teams are assigned based upon ability in three levels - Tee Ball, Coach Pitch and Player Pitch.

Each team member has a "buddy" to assist them on the field. The buddy allows the player to do as much as they are able without assistance. Every player gets the opportunity to bat and as a result kids with a mental or physical "challenge" may enjoy the game of baseball.

Each Little League district hosts the state tournament every 20 years. It is a monster task so the first thing Papetti did was form a committee.

He enlisted the help of Assistant District Administrators Joe Armeli, Gary Hemmer, Ed Mooney and Mike O’Brien. Bergenfield Little League Vice Presidents Brian Haag and Vinny Malley and New Jersey State Safety Officer Dr. Jeff Altman were also appointed to the committee.

Papetti also called upon George Van Haasteren, Dwight-Englewood School’s head groundskeeper. He has done a masterful job preparing Hickey Field for tournament play.

In addition, according to Papetti, the Borough of Bergenfield has been helping the Little League district every step of the way.

"The town is really pitching in," he said. "The Bergenfield Board of Education is donating school buses for transportation of the players. Police will help with the parking. The DPW has been working with us and the ambulance corps will be on hand to cover all the games.

"The state tournament is all about the community coming together."

Teams from around the state will arrive at 1 p.m. Thursday for a tour of the Hickey Field complex. After they are settled in at a hotel in Englewood, they will proceed to The Estate at The Florentine Gardens in River Vale for the New Jersey state dinner. Former Yankee great Don Mattingly is scheduled to be the keynote speaker and WFAN-AM Radio personality John Minko of New Milford will emcee the program.

The opening ceremonies are slated for Friday, July 25 at 5:15 p.m. Members of the Bergenfield High School Band will play the national anthem.

Papetti credits Florentine Gardens and Modell’s as being very supportive with funding. He said that fund-raising is the key to the success of the tournament — and it has been slow. He is encouraging people to make reservations to attend the dinner and to buy advertisements to support the ad book.

"It costs $14,000 alone to house the players and coaches," he said.

Volmer admitted he was apprehensive early in the process, about accomplishing all that is necessary, given the short amount of time they had to get ready.

He is no longer concerned.

"It should be a lot of fun," he said.

"It’s all about the kids," added Papetti.