Chatham Residents Enjoy a Night at the Ballpark

There were close to 300 people from the Chathams at Saturday's Newark Bears game for Chatham Night, and according to Borough Mayor Nelson Vaughan, things went very smoothly throughout at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium.

"Everybody had a good time, and it was great, because the Chatham Recreation people went out on the field," Vaughan said.

Baseball and softball players in Chatham leagues participated in a parade before the game, and members of Boy Scout Troops 8 (from the borough) and 121 (from the township) formed a color guard before the game as well. Chatham resident and World War II veteran David Squibb sang the national anthem.

Vaughan and township Mayor Nicole Hagner each threw out their own version of the game's first pitch.

The Bears lost to the York Revolution, but a fireworks display followed the action on the field.

Vaughan said Newark Bears staff thoroughly accommodated Chatham residents who went to the game.

"They bent over backwards," he said.

Close to 60 people took a 4:42 p.m. train to the game from Chatham on Saturday night. The stadium is very close to the Newark Broad Street stop.