The Angels softball team, sponsored by Mercy Center, gets ready to make local history at the inaugural Little League softball season.
Asbury Park is gearing up for a first as girls take the mound Sat., April 13 to play Little League softball for the first time in the city’s history.
While girls have long been welcomed to participate in Little League baseball, the introduction of girls’ softball teams marks a significant milestone for this shore town.
Amidst this groundbreaking moment, the nonprofit Mercy Center stands at the forefront, sponsoring one of the league’s inaugural teams, aptly named the Angels. The Mercy Center has long been dedicated to empowering and supporting the local community through various initiatives, including operating a food pantry, providing education for girls at Sisters Academy, and offering essential social services to area residents.
“As advocates for inclusivity and opportunity, Mercy Center’s sponsorship of the Angels underscores our commitment to fostering a culture of equality among young girls in Asbury Park,” said Mercy Center’s Executive Director Kim Guadagno. “We’re thrilled that several girls from Sisters Academy will be playing on the Angels team and making local sporting history.”
Tracy Wilson, the manager of Mercy Center’s food pantry, brings her own pioneering spirit to the softball league as she takes on the role of manager and coach of the Angels. Wilson, who made history as the first girl to play Little League baseball in her hometown of Lake Hopatcong and went on to earn an athletic scholarship to Colorado State University, embodies a spirit of resilience and determination.
“This is going to be a wonderful experience for the girls,” Wilson said. “They are going to learn how to be team players and to break out of their shells and gain confidence. They’re going to walk away with their heads up at the end of this season,” Wilson said.
The opening day for Asbury Park Little League is Sat., April 13, at 1 p.m., following a parade that begins at 11 a.m. at Convention Hall and Fifth Avenue and ends at the Little League baseball field, Memorial Drive at Sixth Avenue.
Little League registration is free and open to all children ages four to 15 and ages seven to 15 for girls softball.
Mercy Center, founded by the Sisters of Mercy, is a nonprofit charitable organization working to break the cycle of generational poverty in the greater Asbury Park area. The food pantry nourishes families, caring programs and services help stabilize them, and our Sisters Academy provides a quality education to put an end to the cycle of poverty, one child, one family at a time. To donate, volunteer or learn more about visit www.MercyCenterNJ.org.
