Diamond Club’s 9th annual golf tourney raises $20,000 to support baseball

 

 

By MAUREEN DOHERTY

NORTH READING — They came from as near as their hometown and as far away as Florida, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

The North Reading Diamond Club’s 9th annual Golf Tournament and Banquet drew a field of nearly 150 golfers and a remarkable number of sponsors, all of whom remain committed to the development of the North Reading baseball program decades after they graduated from North Reading High School.

The $20,000 raised at this year’s tournament held at the Hillview followed by a banquet at the Moose — through sponsorships, raffles and live auctions — will be used toward the club’s commitment to continuously improve upon the amenities at Carey Park for the benefit of both players and fans, in addition to supporting valuable student scholarships.

This year also marked a momentous occasion in the history of Hornet Baseball — the 50th anniversary of 1974 Division 1 state championship title! As Coach Frank Carey noted, of the five state championships won during his tenure, 1974 was the only year that little old North Reading had the chance to face off against the biggest teams in the state to earn this statewide honor. These hard-scrabble underdogs defeated Pittsfield to earn that state title.

Every living member of the team was able to make the trip to North Reading to celebrate this accomplishment and they were recognized by name. They wore special 50th anniversary commemorative shirts and were also presented with camp chairs by the Diamond Club. Coach Carey brought the house down with his remembrances of that season — from the “love beads” worn by the players as good luck charms during their long winning streak to his strategy for psyching out their opponents by having the players depart the bus in order of height — from the shortest JV players who were outfitted in the school’s old woolen 1960s-era uniforms to the tallest varsity players — many of whom were over 6 feet tall — and who were outfitted in their very modern mid-‘70s style white uniforms with matching white cleats and green shoelaces. “No one wore white cleats back then!” he recalled.

Of course, there was the roasting of the players by their coach, including his memory of how the late Steve Hartery would be brought to the mound from the outfield every time pitcher Ricky Ward hit a batter. Hartery’s role was to pick off the baserunner before being sent back to the outfield again. Hartery’s son, Chris, was invited to the event as a special guest of the team to represent his dad and received a round of applause from the attendees.

And of course everyone loved to hear how Coach directed the bus driver to drive through Lynnfield on their way home with their championship trophy to let their rivals know that they had won the state title. This was especially sweet for the Hornets since the Pioneers had defeated them twice during the regular season.

 

 

DIAMOND CLUB IMPROVEMENTS

The list of improvements the North Reading Diamond Club’s support has provided to the Hornet baseball program as well as ball players at all levels in town who use the facility is remarkable. Amenities like the batting cages benefit both baseball and softball players, notes NRDC President Chris Hanson, who received this year’s Appreciation Award from the club for his five years of service (and counting) in that role.

Starting back in 2007, the year the Diamond Club received approval from the town to name the high school baseball diamond after their beloved coach, mentor and friend, Frank Carey, the club contributed funds to build the concession stand plus add hot top, a brick walkway and a pillar entrance to “Carey Park.”

In 2008, they added a new single batting cage and new water pump system. In 2011-12, the baseline and field surface were leveled; in 2012-13, they funded pod storage for equipment and maintenance tools and added new foul poles.

2014 saw the construction of dugouts at Carey Park followed by a new sound system in 2016, double batting cages in 2018, and in 2019, they funded the replacement of the sod infield plus added a polycap fence and equipment shed at the Hood School field. In 2020, the NRDC replaced the scoreboard, and in 2022-23, a state-of-the-art sod infield replacement project was completed along with the installation of a new tension-netting backstop. And in 2024 they installed concrete padding and have begun to fund an ongoing stadium seating project.

Why have they done all of this work? As noted in the club’s program: “The Diamond Club wasn’t started so kids could play ball on a smooth diamond or sit in a comfortable dugout. It’s our way of reminding future generations that Coach Carey got it right when he drilled us to “stick to fundamentals” and “not cut corners.”

 

 

2024 GOLF TOURNEY WINNERS

Per usual, the golfing was just as competitive as the Hornet ballplayers have always been. First and second place honors had to be determined in a tiebreaker because both foursomes had scores of -12 under par!

In the end, winning first place was the foursome of Dave Lee, John Meaney, Mark Meaney and Chuck Cimalore. Taking second place was the foursome of Greg Quercia, Mark Quercia, Matt Quercia and Ryan Mahan.

Third place, at -11 under par, went to Tony Gallardo, Anthony Gallardo, Joe Placenti and Rick Salamonczyk.

Taking Closest to the Pin was Paul Texeira; the Straightest Drive honors went to Keith Linnane and Kim Windt; hitting the Longest Drive were Anthony Gallardo and Sheri Almeida. The putting contest was won by Thom Serra.

In addition to Hanson, the officers of the NRDC are: Vice President: Chris Hayter, Treasurer: Tim Haynes and Secretary: Frank Carey. Scott Ellis is the Golf Committee Chairman. Board members also contributing to the success of the day were current coach Eric Archambault, Dave and Melissa Lee, Tom Day, Pat Lee, Tom Salemme, Vin Bonnano, Marco Vittozzi, Lena McCauley, Jonathan Gravallese, Dennis Rollfs, Dave Starrett and Ned Madden.

Now let’s see what the NRDC has in store for its 10th annual tournament in 2025!