However, the crazy schedule doesn't stop there. That's because while the Secaucus 10-year-old team plays in one state tournament, the entire Secaucus Little League is playing host to the 12-year-old Little League State Championship this weekend as well.
The 12-year-old New Jersey Little League State Championship is the granddaddy of all youth baseball tournaments in the Garden State. The winner of this five-day baseball bonanza receives a berth to the Eastern Regionals in Bristol, Conn., with the winner of that tournament moving on to the famous Little League World Series, held each year at Little League headquarters in Williamsport, Pa.
It is the first time in the 40-year history of Little League baseball that the state championships will be held in Hudson County.
"They tell me that this is a pretty big thing," said league president Trombetta, with a smile. "So we're going to go all out to accommodate everyone who comes to Secaucus. We're going to try to welcome the entire state."
More than 1,000 fans are expected to attend each round of the state tournament, which began Friday night at the town's Little League complex at Buchmuller Park and will run through the championship game Tuesday night at 7 p.m., weather permitting.
Four teams, all state sectional champions, will participate in the double-elimination tournament for the right to move on to the Eastern Regionals.
The four teams that will participate this weekend in Secaucus are Section 1 champion Randolph West from Morris County; Section 2 champion Belleville American from Essex County; Section 3 champion Ocean Township North from Monmouth County, and Section 4 champion South Vineland from Mercer County. Secaucus township officials greeted the teams Thursday night at a banquet at the Empire Club in Moonachie, with the games set to begin Friday night. Randolph West will face Belleville American in the first game at 6 p.m., with Ocean Township and South Vineland squaring off at 8 p.m.
Doubleheaders were set for Saturday, with single games Sunday night and Monday at 7 p.m. The tentative championship game was set for Tuesday.
With all the hoopla and attention that comes with running a state championship, Secaucus officials are hard at work, trying to make the visitors feel as comfortable as possible.
In fact, plans to host the tournament began as early as a year ago.
"It was District 7's turn to host the state tournament and [district administrator] Carmine Conti asked us if we would be the host," Trombetta said. "We hosted the 10-year-old state championship in 1995, so we had experience in being the host. So we said that we would do it."
From that moment on last year, Trombetta has been in several planning sessions with state Little League officials, especially state tournament director Joe Graziano, on the litany of things that Secaucus Little League had to do to host the tournament.
That's where Trombetta called upon the services of many of the town's dedicated volunteers, like his friend Rehbein, who has been the hospitality chairman for the tournament.
Rehbein worked out a deal with Crowne Plaza Hotel as the headquarters for the teams to stay at reduced rates. He also had to organize proper transportation for all the teams to and from the hotels. He had to arrange entertainment for the teams and will do so with a picnic at the town pool today (Sunday) at 11 a.m.
All while worrying about coaching his son's team in the state tournament in Teaneck.
"It's been nuts, 24 hours a day," Rehbein said last week. "People have been calling me day and night. With coaching the one team and running the tournament, it's going to be hectic. Thank God I go on a vacation next week. I thought it would be easier than what it was. I'm just trying to keep everyone happy. It's all for the kids, because it's something that they will remember for the rest of their lives. I may be exhausted, but it's well worth it."
Anticipating traffic
With all the anticipated traffic and parking, Trombetta said that plans have been put into place to shuttle fans from Kane Stadium to Buchmuller. Kane has more than sufficient parking spaces.
Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell is pleased with the effort that the town has put forth to act as such a gracious host.
"I'm very proud of our Little League organization and very proud that we're able to host this tournament," Elwell said. "A lot of volunteers have put in a lot of time to make the tournament a success. You need volunteers to spend the time to make this work. I think it's a very good thing for the economy, because the restaurants and hotels will benefit from the tournament being here. All in all, it's a great thing. Our Little League has great baseball coaches and great people that provide the services and the support staff to make it all a great success." Trombetta credited the work of countless volunteers, who all helped the cause, as well as Mayor Elwell and his staff.
"We received a lot of help from the town, from Mayor Elwell, from [Recreation Director] Mike Gonnelli, from [Township Administrator] Anthony Iacono," Trombetta said. "We have about 25 to 30 volunteers, who will handle a variety of duties."
The town's Parks Department totally refurbished the field, in order to get the facility in prime playing condition. The town has also received help from the Jersey City Department of Recreation, which allowed Secaucus to use its bleachers for additional seating in the outfield.
There will also be additional food concession stands to handle the larger crowds.
Trombetta pointed out the work of Rehbein, Dominick Manderano, Joe Capone, Vinnie Prieto, Bob Accera and Mike Lombardo, as well as the work of the league's women's auxiliary, headed by Cheryl Trombetta (Frank's wife), Gina Rehbein (Dave's wife) and Karen Delgado.
"They are all the backbone of the tournament," Trombetta said. "Without them, the tournament doesn't run." Trombetta said that there have been several sponsors that have come through to help the cause, like Goya Foods, the Hindu Temple, Hartz Mountain Industries, Storage Mart, E. Maura Construction and the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Trombetta also wanted to thank the efforts of Conti, the long-time district administrator, who has given more than 30 years service to Little League in Hudson County.
"Carmine kept the District 7 together for so many years," Trombetta said. "We owe this as a tribute to Carmine." Although a pitch has yet to be thrown, Elwell has already started thinking about other tournaments in the future. "We're going all out to make this a success," Elwell said. "And judging by the commitment of our people, we could definitely host an event like this in the future."
The mayor will have to give warning to Trombetta and Rehbein. Their schedules seem to be booked already.
Remembering 1987
When the New Jersey Little League championships come to Secaucus for the weekend, they will cause several residents of the town to think back to 14 years ago, when Secaucus Little League had its best representation in the state tournament.
In 1987, Secaucus captured the District 7 championship, then followed it up with the Section 2 championship, earning the locals their first and only berth in the Little League state championships.
The tournament was held that year in Clayton, at the most southwestern end of the state, off Exit 1 of the New Jersey Turnpike, some three hours away from Hudson County.
Charlie Mutschler was the head coach of the Secaucus team that played in the state championship and says it was a summer worth remembering.
"There was nothing like it," said Mutschler, who has not been involved in local Little League baseball for quite some time. "I held bragging rights for a while, being the only guy to take a team to the state tournament. No other Secaucus team went that far, even the teams with [current major leaguer Mark] Lukasiewicz or [former major leaguer Jeff] Bittiger. We were undefeated when we went to the states."
Mutschler also had a very talented team, featuring six players that would go on to become standout high school and college players, like Eric Otlowski, Mike Marrone, Mike D'Auria, Alan Kashian and Rob DelPriore.
"We had kids who knew the game inside and out," Mutschler said. "I think the key was picking the right kids. I was lucky to have kids who were willing to listen to me, willing to learn. They were able to put their heart and sweat into it and I definitely ran them into the ground. Nobody gave us much of a chance to do anything, even in our own town. But the kids kept winning and winning."
At the state tournament, Secaucus won its first game against Wanaque, then dropped consecutive games to Old Bridge and Nottingham. However, the locals finished third in the state and no Secaucus team has come even close ever since.
"What makes that time memorable is that I'm still very close to a lot of those guys," said former player Rob DelPriore, now 26, and a year removed from pitching professionally for the New Jersey Jackals, an independent pro team that plays at Yogi Berra Stadium at Montclair State. Before that, DelPriore also had had a fine collegiate career at Monmouth University. "We just went out and had fun. I have great memories. It was the first time that a lot of us went away anywhere with our friends."
Added DelPriore, "It was pretty incredible that a team from little Secaucus could be third in the state. When we were playing, we didn't think much of it. But now, we still have a sense of pride of what we accomplished. We all still know to this very day that we went further than any other Secaucus team."
Mutschler said that he thought it was impressive that many of the players on that Little League team 14 years ago moved on to have fine baseball careers after their days with Secaucus Little League.
For example, D'Auria starred at St. John's and is now coaching in the Secaucus Little League. Otlowski had a brilliant career at both St. John's and Montclair State. Although he found success in another sport, Kashian remains one of the all-time leading basketball scorers at Stevens Tech. And DelPriore pitched professionally - although he was strictly an outfielder for the 1987 Secaucus All-Stars.
"I see those kids now and they still call me, 'Mr. Mutsch,'" said Mutschler, who left coaching Little League in 1988 and retired from his job as a printer in 1998. "They're now married and have their own children. Most of them went on to college and they did well there. It really makes me feel proud. I'll always remember that year. The kids were great and we had a lot of fun. I couldn't ask for anything more."
"It was a great experience," said DelPriore, who still plays competitively for the semipro Moonachie Braves of the Met League. "At that age, to be able to get that far, was a great feeling. It may have been 14 years ago, but it's still fresh in my mind. It's something I'll never forget."
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