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82nd Annual Union County Baseball Association Hot Stove Awards

Union County Freeholders Angel G. Estrada and Alexander Mirabella congratulated new members inducted into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame during the 82nd Annual Union County Baseball Association Hot Stove Awards Dinner in Clark. They were joined by Union County Manager Alfred Faella, Union County Baseball Association President Jim Iozzi and the guest speaker, Major League Baseball umpire Phil Cuzzi.

The four new Hall of Famers are Bill Feehan, a longtime Elizabeth firefighter who played for Roselle Catholic High School and helped Kean College win two ECAC championships; Jack Goldberg, a First Team All-State slugger for the Union High School Farmers, who later played in the minors for the Atlanta Braves; Ernie Hoffer of Linden, a three-sport athlete who earned All-County and All-State honors in 1960 and 1961 as a third baseman; and Curt Wallace (not pictured), who distinguished himself as a hitter at Edison Tech in Elizabeth and in inter-county leagues before going on to play, manage, instruct and scout in six countries.

The Freeholders also congratulated the local student athletes honored for their achievements: Shannon Brogan and Gianna Randazza (not pictured) of Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark share the Banyasz Brothers Award for most valuable scholastic softball players; Brian Oblachinski of Cranford received the Edward R. Cooper Award for outstanding high school baseball player; Katarina Polyviou of Cranford received the Joseph R. Lombardi Award for outstanding female athlete; and Nate Roe of Plainfield received the Chris Zusi Award for outstanding male athlete.

The awards dinner is sponsored by the Union County Baseball Association, in cooperation with the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. Since 1937, the Hot Stove League Baseball Dinner has been the primary fund-raiser for the UCBA’s summer and fall programs for young ballplayers.

For more information the Union County Baseball Association, visit www.UCBA-NJ.org.