As Recreation Sports Enrollment Falls, Towns Explore Shared Services

A recent drop in enrollment points to the popularity of emerging sports such as lacrosse

Recreation baseball and softball enrollment has dipped varying degrees in both Wyckoff and Franklin Lakes. But that doesn’t necessarily mean children are forsaking sports — quite the contrary. “[Children] could be playing three or four sports any given month,” said Wyckoff Recreation Director Andy Wingfield. “And some do.” With the addition of spring lacrosse two years ago in Wyckoff and the extension of club soccer into spring, many active youngsters are finding they don’t have time for America’s favorite pastime. In Franklin Lakes, only nine seventh and eighth graders signed up for spring rec softball. “There are also a lot of other activities for kids to get involved in — the Wyckoff Family YMCA Sharks Swim Team has a very strong …

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Franklin Lakes Baseball/Softball Registration Through March 2

Anyone registering after the deadline will incur a $50 fee

Registration for Franklin Lakes Recreation spring baseball and softball will take place through March 2, according to Rec Director John Ciurciu. Any registration received after March 2 will automatically be put on a waiting list and there will be an additional $50 late fee per family. In-person registration will take place Monday through Friday during Recreation office hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For additional information please call the Recreation Department at 201-847-8200. You can register online at gameplan411.com/fl_rec/welcomepage. Have a question or news tip for Wyckoff-Franklin Lakes Patch? Contact editor Joseph M. Gerace at Joseph.Gerace@patch.com, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox every morning, …

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Wyckoff Rec Spring T-Ball, Baseball, Softball Registration

Saturday, Wednesday are the final registration dates

The Wyckoff Recreation Department announced upcoming Spring Registration events will be held on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 9 to 11 a.m. and Wednesday evening, Feb. 13, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m in the Eisenhower School Cafeteria.  The spring schedule includes a co-ed t-ball program for boys and girls presently in kindergarten, a modified t-ball/baseball/softball program for boys and girls in first grade, baseball for boys in grades 2 through 8 and softball for girls in grades 2 through 8.  Boys in grades 4 through 8 playing recreation baseball will once again be using wood bats this year. The fee for kindergarten and first grade is $55 and the fee for grades 2 through 8 is $75. Cash or checks only. Checks must be made out to Wyckoff Recreation. …

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Ramapo Senior Mullen Agrees to Play at Franklin Pierce University

Send your news tips and photos to Joseph.Gerace@patch.com

Andrew Mullen, a senior at Ramapo High School, recently made a verbal commitment to play baseball at New Hampshire's Franklin Pierce University. He has been playing baseball since the age of 8. Over the course of his baseball career he's played with the Wyckoff Raiders Travel Team in the 9 year old world series. In Cooperstown, at the age of 12, his team ranked three out of 96 teams from across the United States. He hit a walk-off home run at Cooperstown and is in the Cooperstown Youth Hall of Fame, his dad Thomas Mullen said Thursday. Currently he is captain and plays starting shortstop and lead off batter for the Ramapo High School varsity baseball team. His club team is the North Jersey Eagles, which is coached by Steve Hayward. The …

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Wyckoff Boys, Girls Lacrosse Registration Announced

Registration is scheduled for Oct. 13 and Oct. 16

Registration for next year's spring lacrosse season for boys and girls in grades 3-8 will be held on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to noon, and Tuesday, Oct. 16, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the Eisenhower School cafeteria. The registration fee is $80. Please be aware that the Recreation Department is no longer handling each player’s registration with US Lacrosse. Membership is still required by the league and instructions on how to register on your own will be provided at both registration dates. The spring lacrosse season begins on March 1 and runs through May. Teams will practice a minimum of twice per week and play at least 2 games per week as well. Boys and girls in grades 3 and 4 are allowed to also participate in Spring Baseball/…

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Mark Teixeira Offers Baseball Tips for Kids

Patch sat down with Yankees First Basemen Mark Teixeira and asked him for his best baseball tips. Share these with your favorite baseball player!

Whether you live with Little Leaguers, newbie t-ball players, or just loyal Yankees fans, it’s always a good time to sharpen your baseball skills. We asked Mark Teixiera to give us his best advice on honing baseball skills in the off-season. Before you hit the field, don’t forget to get all the right equipment. Try a local store like Farrier Sporting Goods. Here are Teixiera's answers to some of your questions: What are three things I can do to become a better fielder? 1. Make sure you know what to do if the ball is hit to you. Are there runners on base? How many outs are there? What is the score of the game? All of these factors decide where you will throw the ball when it is hit to you. 2. Your feet and legs are very important: make sure…

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Play Ball: Annual Parade Kicks Off Season [Photos]

Saturday was the official opening day for little leaguers

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Roads Closed for Baseball/Softball Parade This Weekend

Young athletes march at 10 a.m. on Satuday, April 21

A number of roads will be closed for the annual Wyckoff Baseball and Softball Parade, which starts at the Memorial Field on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. The following roads will be closed: The parade will end at Memorial Field and all roadways should be open by 11:30 a.m., according to township officials. Residents and motorists should anticipate traffic delays when driving through Wyckoff or visiting the other recreation facilities in Memorial Field. "Motorists traveling through the Memorial Field Complex must drive slowly. Be alert for vehicles turning in and out of parking stalls and always be alert for pedestrians," the township wrote to residents in a recent press release. They are advising any motorists traveling through Wyckoff on …

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Spring Training is Something Special

The NY Yankees pitchers and catchers reported for training in Florida earlier this week while the rest of the team arrives Friday

Let me be very clear in saying this, if you have ever worked in sports, namely baseball, there is no better time of year then spring training in Florida. None. Leaving, usually a winter and snow swept (except this year) airport somewhere in New York, the plane trip down there makes you think all at once of the moment you touch down. The plane door opens up to the terminal and you're hit at once by that blast of hot, Florida air. Riding to the hotel, you see palm trees, and small southwest style houses, coupled with the fresh, open-air smell of the warm gulf. All at once you, your senses are alive with the anticipation of seeing the ballpark. Getting there to see the sun rises over is as great as seeing Mickey Mantle at batting practice in …

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Spring Baseball, T-Ball, Softball Registration on Feb. 11

Sign-up held 9-11 a.m. in the Eisenhower School Cafeteria

The following information was sent to residents from the Township of Wyckoff: The Wyckoff Recreation Department announces that its upcoming Spring Registration will be held on Saturday morning, February 11th from 9-11 a.m. in the Eisenhower School Cafeteria ONLY. There is a misprint in the Villadom Times that indicates a second registration date. The only other times to register are Monday 2/13-Friday 2/17 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Recreation Office. The Spring schedule includes a co-ed T-Ball program for boys and girls presently in Kindergarten, a modified T-Ball/Baseball/Softball program for boys and girls in 1st Grade, Baseball for boys in Grades 2–8 and Softball for girls in Grades 2–8.  Boys in grades 4 through 8 playing …

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