Erial Kids to Play Under Lights

It was a banner year for Erial Little League in 2011.

The 12-year-old tournament team fell just one win short of earning the New Jersey state title and the trip to the Little League World Series Northeast Region competiton that came with it.

The 11-year-old team rolled to the District 14 title, giving Erial boosters, players and coaches reason to anticipate another exciting run in the 2012 Little League World Series tournament.

But there are more reasons for Erial residents to be excited about the upcoming local baseball season. The excitement will begin long before tournament play begins in late June.

For starters, the 2012 season marks the 30th anniversary of Erial Little League.

And, if all goes right over the next two-plus months, the 2012 campaign will be unlike any other before it.

Plans are in place to have field lighting installed on the George Erdbrink Complex's Majors diamond, allowing for night games for the league's 10-, 11- and 12-year-old players.

The league has raised the necessary funds to move forward with the field-lighting project, league treasurer Jeff Mastrogiovanni said, and officials are hopeful the lights will be installed in time for Opening Day on March 31.

The work will be completed by Musco Sports Lighting LLC, of Oskaloosa, IA—the same firm that installed the lighting at Gloucester Township Hockey Alliance's Marge Martin Complex and other sports leagues' complexes in the township.

According to Mastrogiovanni, Erial and Audubon are the only two leagues in the 14-member District 14 Little Leauge that do not currently have field lighting.

"Our program is probably the best in the district out of the 14. We usually dominate in districts," Mastrogiovanni said. "I know, just off the top of my head, for the last four years—10-, 11- and 12-year-olds—we've won nine of those 12 district championships."

The Little League program is growing in numbers, too, according to Mastrogiovanni, and installing lights on the Majors field will increase its ability to accommodate more teams. Lighting will also make Erial eligible to host Little League tournament games.

Erial Little League officials stopped by the Township Council's work session Wednesday night to report their intention to move forward with the field-lighting project, which obviously will require township-issued work permits and other approvals.

Familiar with similar endeavors over the years, Council President Glen Bianchini warned the Little League officials to brace for potential resistance from neighbors. He suggested a community meeting to explain the project to nearby residents.

"Thankfully, at least half of the (residents) around the field, play for the league," Mastrogiovanni said.

Musco also puts reflectors on its lights to limit "spillage" into unintended areas, according to Mastrogiovanni.