Once a Tiger, Always a Tiger: South Plainfield Alumni Return to the Diamond
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ — They may have graduated years ago, but for one afternoon they were once again Tigers taking the field together as South Plainfield High School baseball alumni gathered for the program's first-ever alumni game.
With players ranging from Danny and Tommy Massaro from the Class of 1992 to Kevin Penny from the Class of 2025, the event brought together multiple generations of South Plainfield baseball players for a day filled with competition, memories, and community spirit.
The game, held at the South Plainfield Junior Baseball Club Pony Field, was coordinated by Scott Gleichenhaus and Sal Esposito, Jr. in partnership with the South Plainfield Junior Baseball Club and the South Plainfield Parent's Organization.
While some jokingly referred to it as an "Old Timers Day Game," the energy and enthusiasm on the field told a different story.
"They were young at heart and young in spirit," organizers said, as former players relived their playing days and reconnected with teammates, coaches, friends, and family members.
According to Gleichenhaus and Esposito, the idea for the alumni game had been discussed for several years as a way to reconnect former players with the program.
"We had been talking about trying to get people from the program back around," Gleichenhaus said. "I've been saying since 2023 that I wanted to do an alumni game, and a few former players kept asking if there was ever going to be a chance to do one. We finally were able to put it together."
South Plainfield baseball legend Steve Novak, the Tigers' head coach from 1979 to 1994, attended the event, while Craig Salvatore served as umpire for the game.
The turnout exceeded expectations, with packed stands filled with former players, friends, and family members cheering on the alumni squads. The game itself turned into an offensive showcase, with the teams combining for 29 runs in a thrilling contest.
In the end, the younger group, highlighted by several members of the 2018 GMC Championship team, came away with a dramatic 15-14 walk-off victory thanks to a pinch-hit home run by Gleichenhaus himself.
"It couldn't have been a better ending," attendees said following the game.
Participants included Kevin Penny, Charlie Garcia, Taylor Born, Dylan Silverstein, Brandon Shine, Dan Hansen, Dan Massaro, Joe Cirigliano, Christopher Born, Niko Vasquez, Matt Bizup, Michael Kurilew, TJ Massaro, Alan Maglaque, Victor Kurilew, Aldo Pigna, Kevin S. Krystopik, Michael Marrero, Scott Gleichenhaus, Sal Esposito, Justin Jones, Michael Espin, Matt Cassio, Carlos Ruiz, Chris Shine, Nick Irizarry, and Tommy Massaro.
Several participants were also members of championship South Plainfield teams, including GMC champions and North 2 Group 3 sectional champions.
Following the success of the inaugural event, organizers are already looking ahead to next year.
"We hope to make this a yearly thing and get more and more players from as many years as possible and have a lot of fun like we did this year," Gleichenhaus said. "And we really just want to thank everyone who showed up and helped out and hope to see even more people next year."
Note: Current player and future Captain, Chris Loniewski filled in as catcher for one of the teams.
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