21st Ward season gets off to a chilly start
Longtime leaders honored for dedication to league
The 21st Ward Jr. Baseball and Softball League recently held their opening day ceremonies on a cold and blustery Saturday morning to kick off the 2024 season.
With wind chills in the low 40s, it felt more like a December day than mid-April.
Of course, December this past year actually felt more like April which has become typical of the ever-changing weather patterns we’ve been witnessing in our newfound state of global-warming consciousness.
Anyway, it was cold and not the kind of weather you idealize when you’re planning opening day festivities.
Still, hundreds of players and their families put on a brave face for the occasion, mainly because everyone just couldn’t wait to start the season, especially with all the upgrades that have taken place in the off-season courtesy of our friends at Rebuild Philadelphia.
The leadership of the 21st Ward leagues and Roxborough Eagles A.A. with the support of fields guru Jim ‘Turtle’ Marino had long lobbied the city for upgrades at the Pearlman Complex that would require lots of revenue to carry out.
Thanks in part to a windfall from the city’s beverage tax, then-Mayor James Kenney and Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. were able to announce a budget for major improvements to the playing fields and overhead lighting that would have a major impact on enhancing the level of play and putting Pearlman on a par with some of our suburban neighbors.
The crux of the $1.3 million renovation package for repairs and upgrades that were overseen by Rebuild Philadelphia included:
New LED lights on portions of the complex (the tall 60’ poles)
Regraded and new infield mix on Pony Field
Regraded Roxborough Eagles football field/Bud Ryan Field
New open backstop on Pony Field
New player benches on Ryan Field and Pony Field
Regraded and upgraded infield mix on B Field
Three new staircases and railings
Fence repairs and new access gates around the complex
Players Parade
As the players filed onto the Pony Field by teams, they were greeted with high fives from 21st Ward Commissioner Brian Sannicandro and State Rep Tarik Khan. Once the youngsters settled down, it was time for the business of recognizing those who were prime movers in making all these pipe dreams into reality.
Lou Fresta had the privilege of introducing Sannicandro who was gushing with praise for all those who had a hand in taking the Pearlman Complex into the 21st century.
Following a stirring duet by IHM eighth graders Louisa Pellicone and Lucy Smith of our National Anthem, Parks and Recreation Director Susan Slawson came to the dais to laud Rebuild Philadelphia and their outstanding leadership in completing the improvements in time for the youngsters to hit the field this spring without missing a beat.
The Roxborough Eagles weren’t as fortunate last fall as they had to move their
practices and games to Roxborough High while repairs were underway.
State Rep. Tarik Khan, who must have a body double for all the local events that he makes time to attend, pressed all the rah-rah buttons with his exuberance and mission to fully support the 21st Ward sports leagues through his networking and influence with local government and in Harrisburg.
A Philly kid himself, Khan stated that “as a child who grew up playing youth sports in Philadelphia, I know how important it is to have robust sports programs and facilities to support our youth. These substantial renovations to the 21st Ward Al Pearlman Complex show a strong commitment by our City to invest in our community and our future.”
Presentation of the Commissioner’s Trophy
This annual tradition, started in 1995, presents the Manager of the Minors level champion from the prior season with a trophy with the Manager’s and team name engraved on it to honor the accomplishment.
Drew Hudecki, Manager of the 2023 Champion Clippers, was honored for winning the Minors Championship in 2023.
Remembrance of Mike Gondos Sr.
The league invited the Gondos family as our special guests as they recognized their late father, Michael who recently passed away.
Mr. Gondos was a longtime volunteer and coach, and bled the black and gold of the Ivy Ridge Panthers.
The baseball field was his sanctuary and he inspired countless numbers of children through teaching the game of baseball.
The league presented Mike’s children with 21st Ward hats in the colors of the Panthers, and the family shared a special photo with the current Panthers T-ball team in Mr. Gondos’ honor. Mike Gioquindo Award
Each year the league
awards the Gioquindo Award for courage in honor of Mike Gioquindo.
Mike was an umpire and coach, and while Mike was umpiring, he was diagnosed with cancer.
Despite the diagnosis, Mike continued to umpire while battling cancer, and he exemplifies what it means to be courageous in the face of adversity.
This year, the Gioquindo Award was proudly presented to the Kwartnik Family in honor of the courage, strength, and bravery they have exhibited after their daughter Sloane passed away in a tragic accident in 2023.
The Kwartnik family’s roots run deep in Roxborough and Manayunk and as members of our league as players and coaches with the Indians.
Jim Kwartnik and his son Luke were on hand to accept the award.
Jim shared some heartfelt words and inspired our crowd with examples of the courage Luke shows each day as he adjusts to life without his sister and best friend by his side.
In addition, the league presented Jim with a donation in Sloane’s memory to Sloane’s Roses, a non-profit that provides assistance to family members who have suffered or been affected by a child-related death, injury, loss, or tragedy.
Future Projects
The league is working hard to secure additional state, city, or private funding to support enhancements and repairs to the Hagy’s Mill Softball Complex, such as new player dugouts, backstop repairs/replacement, and regrading of Field 2 to improve drainage.
Following the ceremony, there was a full slate of games at every level throughout the day.
Sure, it was frigid, especially for those bundled up to watch the games while the kids frolicked around on the newly renovated playing fields.
A special shout out to all those who pitched in to get the fields ready after several bouts of torrential rain leading up to the kids taking the field and umpires yelling, “Play Ball.”