Wednesday, March 31, 2021
The Observer | www.theobserver.com
Sports & Recreation WITH
Jim Hague ogsmar@aol.com
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Lyndhurst’s Jorge ready to make history as college baseball player
Memories of NA’s beloved coach ‘Fergie’ He spent nearly four decades as the head boys’ basketball coach at North Arlington High School. He was also the chairman of the guidance department at the school for even longer. He was beloved by practically everyone who knew him. The basketball tournament that is played every Christmas bears his name in his honor. Bill Ferguson passed away a little more than two weeks ago after a battle with lymphoma at the age of 85. But the memories of North Arlington’s beloved “Fergie” will not die any time soon. His former players and assistant coaches that worked with Ferguson will make sure of that. “It’s just a big loss for North Arlington,” said Dan DiGuglielmo, Ferguson’s assistant coach who eventually replaced the legend as the head man with the Vikings. “Going back to my childhood and my neighborhood, we lived on the same block (Hendel Avenue). He was a friend to everyone in the neighborhood. He would do anything for anyone in the neighborhood, like shoveling snow or taking out garbage. There wasn’t anyone who didn’t love Fergie.” DiGuglielmo, who was
also the baseball coach at the school, said that Ferguson played the role of mentor to him growing up. “When I decided that I wanted to be a teacher and a coach, he helped me a lot,” DiGuglielmo said. “He got me into coaching football. He gave me guidance all the time. He would tell me the ‘Dos’ and the ‘Don’ts.’ He made sure he took care of the kids with special needs.” One of those with special needs that Ferguson looked after was neighbor Vinnie Macaluso. “Fergie brought Vinnie in and treated him like he was a member of the coaching staff,” DiGuglielmo said. “When Fergie became the director of recreation, he brought Vinnie along.” DiGuglielmo said that Ferguson was the one who initiated picnics during the summer for those with special needs. There was also the town’s annual three-kilometer run that was held annually on July 4. “That was all part of Fergie’s ingenuity,” DiGuglielmo said. “He was amazing. He never had a bad day. I have so many great memories.” DiGuglielmo said that he See VIEW, Page 10
Photo by Jim Hague
Lyndhurst High School senior Alexia Jorge will make history in the fall when she becomes the first female to play college baseball at St. Elizabeth’s University in Convent Station.
By Jim Hague ogsmar@aol.com Throughout her young and impressive life, Alexia Jorge has been told countless times that she couldn’t do some things, usually involving the sport she loves the most – namely baseball. The Lyndhurst High School senior has been doubted time and time again that she couldn’t play baseball, that it would be better for her if she tried to play softball like all the other girls in Lyndhurst. To that idea, Jorge has said one thing: Bunk! No one was going to tell Jorge that she couldn’t play baseball, even though she’s a girl. Jorge always loved playing baseball, going back to her days in the Lyndhurst
Little League. When she got to Lyndhurst High School, she was told that maybe it would be better if she played softball, that she more than likely would dominate playing softball. Jorge didn’t care. She wanted to play baseball with and against the boys. Jorge is a solid catcher and pitcher in baseball and more than handles her own. So she tried out for the Lyndhurst High inSchool baseball program and lo and behold, Jorge made the team. Jorge made her mark with the Golden Bears as a surehanded catcher and a dependable catcher. She also gained some attention for earning a spot on the USA Baseball national team as the youngest member of the
team. Jorge has traveled all over with Team USA and has become one of the most popular players on the team. Jorge has also played for an old-time baseball team in upstate New York, which turned out to be a wild experience, wearing old-time wool uniforms of the 1880s and using equipment that was recreated to resemble the balls, bats, gloves and in Alexia’s case, catcher’s gear. But the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic really put a crimp into every baseball player’s plans in 2020, especially high school juniors like Jorge, who really hoped to get a chance to play college baseball. Yes, Jorge hoped to play See JORGE, Page 11
