Jersey Pilots Bring Baseball Back to Snyder Field

Competitive baseball is back in Berkeley Heights. The Jersey Pilots baseball team started its second season at Snyder Field June 2—and General Manager Ben Smookler wants residents to come out and root, root, root for the home team.

The Pilots are part of the nonprofit Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, which operates during the summer to put outstanding college players before scouts from Major League Baseball, which helps fund the ACBL.  

"Recruiters come to see the players, and if they see someone they feel has potential, they will follow them when they play for their college teams," Smookler told Patch, adding that those who can't make it to Snyder Field can watch the games live-streamed on the website teamline.cc. 

While this is the team's second year in Berkeley Heights, the Pilots have existed for four decades, and Smookler said he's put 40 years into the league because of his passion for exposing new talent.

"We've had more than 200 people sign with the minor leagues of baseball, and of them, 18 have made it into the major league," he said. "Now, some had enough time to have a cup of coffee and some stayed for years, but I think that's a pretty good record."

He said part of the draw for players is not only getting to be seen by Major League Baseball scouts, but also to hone their skills.

"Most schools use aluminum bats, but in the big leagues they use wooden ones," said Smookler. "We're a wooden-bat league."

Smookler moved the team to the township from its previous base in Bridgewater "because I live here," he said.

“Chris Roof, the baseball coach at Governor Livingston High School and who played with the Pilots, called and asked if I would be interested in moving the team to Snyder Field," the general manager said. "It was what I'd always wanted, playing in my town."

The ACLB is one of nine college leagues that serve as recruiting arms for Major League Baseball, and Smookler said finding players looking for a shot at the big leagues is not a challenge.

"College coaches send me names, scouts call me...," he said, "I don't have any problem finding players."

And he said he is delighted that this year's Pilots squad features four GLHS graduates. In fact, most of the players come from New Jersey.

"I lose money on this, so I certainly can't afford to house the players," he explained. "But I love it. I love baseball."

The Pilots' 40-game schedule is now underway. Games takes place Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. for a double headers, or 7 p.m. for single games.

The team will also host special events: On June 30, the Pilots will host a street fair at Snyder Field, where fans can buy yearbooks, T-shirts, hats and other souvenirs. On Wednesday, July 4, a special game will be held in honor of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post. Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts will be guests of honor for another game, which is as yet unscheduled.

For more information about the Jersey Pilots, contact Smookler at 908-464-8042 or via bensmookler@aol.com.

Jersey Pilots GM Ben Smookler and GL grads now on the team, Mike Cranston (pitcher), Tyler Martis (shortstop and 2nd base) and Billy Worswick (pitcher), will be Patch Editor Natalie Davis' guests on community news program "This Week in Berkeley Heights." The program, filmed at GLHS' television studios, airs for a week starting Thursday at various times on Comcast channel 34 and on FIOS channel 47. This week's episode will be the last show of the series until the start of the 2013-14 school year.