Chatham's Ready for Newark Bears Night

The Newark Bears won't play in front of a typical crowd Saturday night.

Borough and township residents will head to the Bears' stadium for Chatham Night, which the team is hosting in an effort to bring Chatham residents into the stadium.

The Bears will face the York Revolution at 7:05 p.m. at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium. There will, however, be plenty of themed pregame festivities.

A parade before the game will feature players from Chatham Recreation's baseball and softball leagues. Boy Scouts from both the borough and township will form a color guard before the game (Troop 121 in the township and Troop 8 from the borough are participating).

David Squibb, a 90-year old World War II veteran, will sing the national anthem and will also regale the crowd with his vocal skills during the seventh inning stretch.

The towns' two mayors will also get in on the act. Borough Mayor Nelson Vaughan and township Mayor Nicole Hagner will both throw out the first pitch, most likely to two separate catchers.

"Hopefully people won't notice how bad they are," Vaughan joked.

Vaughan said he will be joined by Boy Scouts and council members on a 4:42 p.m. train from Chatham to Newark. The stadium's gates open at 6:05 p.m.

Several Chatham businesses, such as the Chatham Sports Shop, will be on hand selling their wares to customers at the stadium.

Bears Media Relations and Broadcast Manager David Greenwald has said that allowing the businesses to set up shop at the stadium provides them "tremendous exposure."

Tickets are $10 and are still available at the Community Pass section of the Chatham Recreation Web site for the rest of the day.