Clubs
New County Commander
James Eichman, Sr.
James J. Eichman “Jim”, of Westville, NJ passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday February 10, 2021. Jim was a long time member of the Merchantville Fishing Club, a regular at their annual awards banquet and a frequent attendee at most kid events with his grandchildren. According to his obituary, Jim loved all things outdoors, be it fishing and trapping, gardening and hiking, and even metal detecting. He truly loved the outdoors and passed this love of nature off to his children & grandchildren who surely will continue in his footsteps. He leaves behind his wife of 46 years Deborah L. (Marcus) Eichman; children, Jimmy, Kevin (Kelly) and, Lisa Groves (Jeff); and, grandchildren Madeline, Ellie, Hannah, Connor, Claire, Matias and Jocelyn. A great guy who will be missed by all members of the club.
2021 Little league Registration
Little League Merger
Beatification Inspires Knights
On May 27, 2020, Pope Francis announced that the Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus, will become beatified on October 31st. The ceremony will occur during a special Mass at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, CT. This exciting news was welcomed by Knights of Columbus councils worldwide including George Pierlott, Grand Knight of Council 6735 out of Merchantville’s Saint Peter Parish. “It’s a great group of men, always willing to help,” he said. A Grand Knight since July 1st, and a member of the council since 2006, Pierlott has joined his brothers in assisting the parish during COVID-19. Their work has included setting up the parish’s live-streaming of Masses; organizing a drive-up and drop-off to fill the pantry of the parish’s local Saint Vincent de Paul Chapter, and help feed over 50 families each month; and providing funds for the church’s sanitizing supply.
Baseball Clinic Planned
Exciting news! MLL is offering a Fall Baseball Clinic to both Merchantville Little League and Pennsauken Little League baseball players ages 9-12. This clinic is being run by Coach Eric Newell of Haddon Heights High School and Coach Gautier of Pennsauken. Over the years, MLL has fed players to both high schools and the coaching staff at both schools are eager to develop future players. All participants will receive a clinic tee shirt and participate in 3 days of baseball. Clinic dates: October 2nd through 4th. Friday, October 2nd: 5:30-7:00 p.m. with Coach Newell of the Haddon Heights Garnets; Saturday, October 3rd: 11:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. with Coach Rolando of PHS Indians. Sunday, October 4th: 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. with Coach Mike Stallone of PMS Indians and Coach Rolando. Registration fee is $25 + tax for all three days and is open until 19th of September. Location TBD.
Coaching Unity Through Covid
With the country reeling from a global pandemic and tensions rising with protests against racial injustice, The Courier-Post covered Merchantville Little League Coach Vince Martinez as he looked for a way to bring his team of 8-, 9- and 10-year-olds together. “With everything that was happening in the world and with Black Lives Matter movement, I thought we needed to unify the team and we could do that with all of the kids wearing the same number,” Martinez said. And in baseball, where numbers mean everything, there’s only one numeral that could achieve his goal - Jackie Robinson's No. 42. Martinez, who played baseball at Pennsauken High School and Camden County College, was applauded by MLL parents for celebrating the life and values of a true sports hero.
Gardening Good Works
Cindy Hertneck, member of Merchantville's Garden Club & Incredible Edible, will often be seen elbow deep in vegetation spots around town working hard to keep our community sustainable and beautiful. Every year Garden Club volunteers plant, weed and water an abundance of foliage around town including planters throughout the downtown, at Borough Hall, along the bike path, the Merchantville Circle garden, Morrissey Park, and adjacent to Cigar Alley. Please consider contributing your time to helping the Garden Club keep our town beautiful during this busy time of year. Contact Cindy Hertneck at (609) 472-4626 if you would like to join the Garden Club.
MLL Registration
Bob Wetherspoon, President of MLL, wants to remind everyone that baseball and softball registrations are now open for what will hopefully be our Late Summer and Fall Season. If you want to sign up- click on the "sign up" button on this page or go to www.merchantvillelittleleague.org and click on the available programs to sign your son or daughter up today. Also keep an eye on our Facebook Page over the next couple of days as we send out a special tribute to our graduating Seniors. These girls have played in some of the biggest softball games at MLL in the last 10 years and we want to send them off to college the right way!
MLL Celebrates Seniors
Merchantville Little League has been honoring their graduating seniors through pictures and Senior Spotlight tributes on their Facebook page. #13 Kallie Anderson is a Senior at Haddon Heights High School. #18 Alexa Sherr, a senior at Collingswood High School, came to our team in the summer of 2017 and quickly became one of our leaders on and off the field. #8 Kassidy Press, a senior at Audubon High School, is a softball player who came to us in her sophomore year and has played on our Girls Senior Team since 2018. We at MLL congratulate our graduating seniors for jobs well done. We know they will be awesome at everything they do and, will absolutely miss having them with us!
Kallie was named captain of this year’s softball team at HHHS and was one of last year’s Carpenters Cup Reps for Haddon Heights. When she was 7 years old Kallie decided that coach pitch softball was the best thing ever and she hasn’t looked back since. Kallie started her career pitching and playing the infield but, found her special place in the 2 spot on our ball field. She is an absolute ROCK STAR behind the plate and a great young lady out in front of it. Kallie will be starting Rutgers University this fall to attend their nursing school program.
Alexa in just 3 short seasons compiled a whopping 111 hits, 75 RBI’s and 11 HR’s. “Play Metallica for her” when she walks up to the plate- our coaches used to yell when she stepped in the box!!!! Alexa has led us to so many victories and she also became the face and the voice of our team. Every new player that has come through our Mustangs team has always commented on how welcoming that monster player Alexa is!!! We wanted her to know that we can’t thank her enough for doing that and also wanted to let her know SHE WILL ALWAYS be part of who we are! Alexa will be attending The University of Pennsylvania in the fall to study Nursing and we are sure she will become a leader in that field as well!!
Kassidy has always been a leader and all of MLL will miss having her in the batting order on our fields. She hit one of the most important home runs for her Mustangs in the 2018 Senior Little League State semi-final games when she took a fastball on a 2-2 count in the 3rd inning over the right field fence to give our team a 2-1 lead over Bayonne Little League that ended in a 11-1 rout. Kassidy is enrolled at the University of Delaware this fall to pursue a Sports Studies and Athletic Training major.
Little League Postponed
Dear Players, Parents, Sponsors and Members of Merchantville Little League: “This is much bigger than any game.” Merchantville Little League along with every other Little League worldwide received the following directive from Little League International: “with the most recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) , the Little League International Board of Directors and staff is now strongly recommending that all of its local Little League programs suspend or delay the start of their seasons until no earlier than at least, May 11, 2020.“ Due to this and for the health and well-being of our players and members we are suspending ALL LEAGUE operations including – practices, games, scrimmages, meetings and even our opening day ceremonies and league wide picture day now through at least May 11, 2020. Please look for updates on our Facebook page and from our email system at Blue Sombrero as well . Please contact Robert Wetherspoon, President MLL, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions.