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The Union County Conference finally has a softball all-star game.
With the Greater Middlesex Conference running a senior all-star event for years, and with the Skyland Conference adding one in 2019, Union County has joined the party, with its inaugural senior all-star game set for 6 p.m., Wednesday, June 14, at Kean University, which is donating its softball facilities for the event.
This game is being organized by the Berkeley Heights Police Athletic League to recognize the top senior softball players in Union County. Bill Faxon, who is the PAL’s head wrestling coach, is also the president of the Central Jersey Lightning softball club and the event’s organizer. He, along with Governor Livingston head softball coach Erin Lanigan, have spearheaded the effort to get the game started.
Faxon, who is the father of Governor Livingston High School senior standout Elise Faxon, said the Skyland Conference Senior All-Star Game was the inspiration for this event.
“The Skyland game was the inspiration,” he said. “We had three girls last year – Sammy Miller from Watchung, Josie Marcinek from Hillsborough and Anna Stowe from Pingry – all play for me (on the CJ Lighting). They were in the Skyland game and it was a big deal and everybody loved it.”
More:Softball: Skyland Conference Senior All-Star Game set
“I have three sons and one daughter, and I got involved in softball because I felt girls didn’t really get the recognition the boys were getting and weren’t getting quite the opportunities,” said Faxon, who also credits Governor Livingston baseball coach Chris Roof for his guidance, as well as input from members of the Skyland Conference game’s committee in making this event a reality. “And then I saw the Skyland game and how much fun these girls had playing with and against people they’ve known since they were kids. So, the idea of being on the same team as a kid from Cranford or Westfield that you played against in high school and played against in middle school and in club, it seemed like a lot of fun.”
Lanigan, who is in her fifth season as Governor Livingston head softball coach, has also been a key player in getting the event off the ground. She will serve as the head coach for one of the squads, with Westfield’s Caitlin Cheddar, a former Blue Devils superstar pitcher who has coached the program since 2009, skippering the other squad.
“I’m doing the legwork, but this never would have gotten off the ground without her (Lanigan),” Faxon said. “She’s the one who helped me with all the coaches. And once she got Caitlin Cheddar on board, it added another level of credibility. There’s been a tremendous response. It’s exceeded my expectations, honestly. I’d say about 75 percent of the coaches have said they’d be interested in helping to coach or be on the selection committee. And the people at Kean have been great. They have been very supportive.”
“This event is something I’ve been in communication about with a handful of people for a few years now,” Lanigan said. “I’ve always thought it was so nice that other counties hosted games like this and Bill Faxon and I started asking around and getting info. We decided it’s been a long time coming and wanted to make it happen this year. Bill’s really done a lot of the legwork, and I am so appreciative of him for that. We reached out to all the coaches from the 21 schools in our county conference, and so many responded immediately offering to help coach and be a part of the selection committee. The consensus is the same throughout – give these female athletes the sendoff they deserve.”
With the game slated for the Wednesday after the state finals, county coaches have until Friday, May 12, to nominate their seniors for the event. The selection committee will then pick then choose the honorees and split the group into two teams, with that process currently scheduled for May 15.
“I’m truly excited to be a part of this and get it off the ground. I think it’s going to be a great event, and only continue to get bigger each year,” Lanigan said. “Again, a huge thank you to Bill Faxon, who’s also promised me he’ll continue to a part organizing each year to come.”
While Faxon’s daughter a current senior, and with this year’s senior class being the group that lost their freshman season to the COVID shutdown, it makes this the perfect season to get the game started.
“But this is not a one-time deal,” he said. “We’re going to keep it going.”
Staff writer Simeon Pincus has been covering NJ sports since 1997, and has been on the softball beat since 1999. He can be reached at CourierSoftball@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @SimeonPincus
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