Catholics fill Cyclones Park in Coney Island

Catholic elementary school staff members played a friendly, mini game of baseball at the Brooklyn Cyclones’ annual Catholic School Night on June 17.

Prior to the start of the Cyclones-Aberdeen IronBirds game that night, “Collars and Scholars” from the Dioceses of Brooklyn and Queens took their places to see who the best was, outside the classroom and on MCU Park’s field. The match-up was between some of the priests, nuns, school/academy principals and administrators.

“What a tremendous turnout of students from Catholic schools and academies throughout Brooklyn and Queens. The spirit of Catholic education filled MCU Park last night, as our schools celebrated the end of this school year,” said John Quaglione, the Diocese of Brooklyn’s deputy press secretary. “The Diocese of Brooklyn has many great priests, pastors, principals, and teachers, who have been blessed with many talents, including skill on the baseball diamond.”

Ed Wilkinson, editor emeritus of The Tablet, served as the umpire for the pre-game baseball challenge. A bobblehead doll – created for Sister Shirlee Tremont of St. Bernadette Catholic Academy, the 2018 MVP of the Scholars team – was distributed to fans with their ticket purchases. Sr. Tremont, Auxiliary Bishop Paul Sanchez and Dr. Tom Chadzutko, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for Brooklyn and Queens, played. A ceremony honoring the schools’ valedictorians and salutatorians, sponsored by the Catholic Telemedia Network, also occurred.

The final score was 2-1, with the Collars winning for the second year in a row.

Top photo courtesy of the Diocese of Brooklyn

George Fiala

George Fiala has worked in radio, newspapers and direct marketing his whole life, except for when he was a vendor at Shea Stadium, pizza and cheesesteak maker in Lancaster, PA, and an occasional comic book dealer. He studied English and drinking in college, international relations at the New School, and in his spare time plays drums and fixes pinball machines.