DUI Lawyers in Plainfield, NJ

Click here for important updates to our privacy policy.

BASEBALL

MyCentralJersey.com

SOUTH PLAINFIELD – Sluggers want to mash homers, right?

That’s just a natural inclination for power hitters. But JP Zayle discovered muscling up for highlight-film shots doesn’t quite work.

“No, believe it or not,” the St. Joseph senior said. “You got to be as smooth as you can. Last year there were a couple times I tried to hit a home run and they don’t come. You need to let them come to you.”

Friday, the 6-foot, 225-pounder belted his second home run of the season in St. Joseph’s 14-7 win over South Plainfield in the Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division game. His approach has been mirroring the rest of the Falcons’ mindset.

“A big word for our team this year has been loose,” he said. “Loose, not lazy. So, staying loose, playing with energy, playing with fire.”

That passion was on display as St. Joseph cranked out a 13-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth against South Plainfield, No. 2 in the Home News Tribune preseason GMC Top 10. The Tigers (2-1), fresh off a sweep of Edison, rallied as Dan Kapsch went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and a walk and Dom Massaro (2-for-3) doubled, walked and had an RBI.

Right fielder Kevin Penny threw out a runner trying to score on a sac fly with a perfect toss to catcher Steve Studlack as South Plainfield got out of a bases loaded, no-out jam.

No. 10 St. Joseph (1-2), though, held on for Dennis McCaffery’s first win as the Falcons skipper. McCaffery retired at the end of last year after coaching Cranford to 511 wins in 25 seasons. He’s a member of the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Union County Baseball Association Hall of Fame.

He returned to the dugout after Mike Murray Jr. stepped down after nine seasons at St. Joseph. Friday, he was thrilled the team got the win with the hope it’s the first of many for the Metuchen school.

“I’m happy for the kids,” McCaffery said. "It’s never about me. It starts on the mound. Richie Zangara threw a good game. He was able to throw strikes and command both sides of the plate and he did a very good job.”

The senior righthander allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings and Luke Palermo finished up on the mound. The pitchers just had to keep the Falcons in the game and the offense did the rest.

St. Joseph had 11 runs and 10 hits in the opening two-game series against Woodbridge. That hot hitting continued Friday with 18 hits. The No. 3 hitter Zayle crushed a 1-2 pitch over the 378-foot sign in left center field for a three-run blast and a 3-1 Falcons lead in the second. He also had a blast on opening day after having no dingers in 2024.

Friday, Zayle had plenty of company. Leadoff hitter Bobby Christensen went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and No. 9 hitter Zach Penley was 2-for-4 with an RBI. In between, the hits kept on coming.

From the No. 2 spot, Joseph Barca doubled twice with two RBIs followed by clean-up hitter Palermo (2-for-5, double, 2 RBIs), Matthew Ferber (3-for-5, 3 RBIs, solo home run to left field) and Logan Ring (3-for-5), while Owen Krulikowski and Luke Baranauskas had a hit apiece.

“It honestly feels like we have a three or four hitter every spot,” Zayle said. “We’ve seen it in practice. We’ve seen it in every game, every kid can hit, which is awesome.”

St. Joseph had a rare down spring last year with many varsity newcomers in its typical brutal slate. Now, that seasoning should pay off.

“So now, you see everybody kind of playing more loose,” Zayle said. “We have a lot of returning guys. Every single guy with the exception of maybe three or four guys were on the team last year, so nobody’s stressing. Nobody’s nervous. Everybody’s been here before. … Experience is a big factor, especially in high school sports and especially in high school baseball and I keep going back to the word loose – everybody’s playing loose.”

Zayle certainly is not stressing and noted the team has no egos. Case in point: Zayle saw time last season at first and third base He seamlessly moved over to second base this season to help fill a void.

Another example: Zayle bunted in his last at-bat. Whatever it takes, he’ll do it. And if it means hitting a home run, so be it.

“Last year tried to muscle a lot of things, tried to do too much,” Zayle said. “This year just let the bat and hands work and good things happen. … Coach McCaffery runs an awesome offense. It works. It’s a system. Nobody on this team is chasing stats. We’re chasing wins.”

Local officials are facing off in Plainfield after the city’s board of education proposed raising local school property taxes by 36% — the district’s first tax increase in six years — to help close a budget gap.

Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp publicly criticized the move, saying it would further burden residents who are already facing financial struggles in the Union County city.

“This decision, which will place an even greater financial strain on homeowners, is a shocking abdication of the BOE’s duty to be responsible stewards of public funds,” the mayor said in a statement.

MORE: Biggest losers in N.J.’s new school funding plan

Plainfield’s median household income was $70,712 in 2022, according to Census figures. That is among the lowest in the county.

During the city’s March 18 board of education meeting, officials said the school tax increase was necessary to offset the dwindling state aid the district has relied on in recent years.

In a 7-1 vote, the Plainfield Board of Education approved a preliminary $338 million school district budget and introduced a measure to raise the local tax levy from 2.14% to 2.92% for the next school year.

The increased tax levy would mean school taxes would increase by about 36% — amounting to an $853 annual increase in taxes for the average homeowner, according to the board.

“I know that is not an easy pill to swallow, nor is it easy as a taxpayer here in the city of Plainfield, as a homeowner, to deliver,” Cameron Cox, Plainfield Board of Education business administrator, said while presenting the budget.

“But it is my job to give you where we stand and what steps we have the option to take — and we should take — in order to be able to deliver all the services that we need," Cox added.

Though nearly 75% of Plainfield’s budget comes from state aid, the district plans to rely more on taxes to support its schools in order to “prepare for the future” and avoid depleting its emergency reserve accounts, Plainfield Superintendent Rashon K. Hasan added.

“We cannot put ourselves in a position where we’re constantly making withdrawals from our savings account to balance our checking account,” Hasan said at the meeting.

MORE: N.J. school districts are panicking over funding cuts. Here’s how one lawmaker want to fix it.

Last month, after Gov. Phil Murphy unveiled his $12.1 billion school funding plan for fiscal year 2026, the New Jersey Department of Education released preliminary state aid figures for the state’s nearly 600 districts.

Plainfield is slated to receive about $288 million in state aid under Murphy’s proposal. That is a nearly $11.9 million increase, or 4.3% more than the previous year.

However, it is not as big of an increase as Plainfield has received in previous years. In 2024, Plainfield saw one of the largest state aid increases in New Jersey, totaling $30 million.

New Jersey’s school funding law, which was fully implemented for the first time last year, is designed to shift aid away from overfunded schools to support underfunded ones. But some districts say the formula is unfair.

As the state implements the formula, lower-income districts like Plainfield are less likely to see the substantial aid increases they once did, school board officials said.

According to Cox, the state has advised low-income districts —formerly known as “Abbott districts” — to begin increasing their local tax levies in preparation for reduced state funding.

A public hearing on Plainfield’s school budget, including the proposed tax increase, is scheduled for April 29.

The proposed tax increase also became a political flashpoint after the mayor publicly criticized Councilman Richard Wyatt —who plans to run for Plainfield mayor in June — for celebrating the school budget proposal.

“A 36% tax hike is not a cause for celebration. It is a devastating blow to Plainfield homeowners, many of whom are already struggling with rising costs and economic uncertainty,” Mapp said.

In response, Wyatt defended his stance in a Facebook post, saying raising taxes should be a last resort and Plainfield schools are struggling under an unfair system that prioritizes local tax incentives for developers and charter schools.

“I understand the financial pressures families are under,” Wyatt said. “In these uncertain times, I do not and would not support a tax increase.”

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – Registration is currently under way for the 2025 season at South Plainfield Legends Camp.

For 2025, the 10-week camp, open to both residents and non-residents entering kindergarten through sixth grade, will take place at the PAL and run from June 23 through Aug. 29. The camp offers full-day flexible options to accommodate working parents’ schedules and runs Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with early drop off (7 a.m.) and late pick up (6 p.m.) offered for an additional fee.

Each week will feature a different ‘theme,’ along with a variety of daily activities, including sports, arts and crafts, special events, trips, and more. Campers will also have the option to sign up for swim lessons at the South Plainfield Community Pool.

Sign Up for FREE South Plainfield Newsletter

Get local news you can trust in your inbox.

“I’m so excited to start our third camp season,” said Renee Eggert, a resident of South Plainfield who is returning to serve as director for the third consecutive year. “We have a fun-filled and exciting summer planned, including a new trip to Liberty Science Center. We also adding some new events to the mix and there will be lots of games and activities, too.”

In addition to Eggert, formerly of the Club at Ricochet, camp staff will include CPR and First Aid certified senior counselors as well as a team of junior counselors and counselors in training. Those interested in working at Legends Camp in any of the aforementioned capacities can apply online.

“This summer we are looking forward to welcoming back some of our amazing returning staff as well as teaming up with new staff members who will be joining the South Plainfield Legends Camp Team,” she said.

Registration for Summer 2025 sessions of Legends Camp is currently open for South Plainfield residents; non-residents may sign up beginning March 17. The cost, including registration fees and enrollment requirements, is as follows:

“I can’t wait to see the campers from previous years and meet new families, too,” Eggert said, adding that families interested in more information can attend one of two upcoming open houses.

Scheduled for Saturday, March 22 and Saturday, May 10 at 2 p.m. at the PAL, the open houses will include a tour and details about what a day at camp looks like. No registration is necessary.

To sign up for Legends Camp 2025, click here. Registrants new to utilizing the department’s Community Pass feature needing help with account set-up can reach out to the recreation staff during business hours at 908-226-7713 or via email at recsupport@southplainfieldnj.com; camp-specific questions can be directed to reggert@southplainfieldnj.com.

Note: Legends Camp is offered in addition to the recreation department’s weekly sport camps, half-day Summer Parks program, and Safety Town.

PROVIDENCE -- Simeon Wilcher grew up in Plainfield, N.J. learning the game of basketball from his dad and his siblings, including his older brother C.J.

“Yeah, he was my foundation to everything,” Simeon Wilcher, a 6-foot-4 sophomore guard at St. John’s, said of C.J. here Friday. “When I was younger he started playing before me. I watched him and how hard he went at it and watched how hard he worked. He kind of made me fall in love with the game, too.”

Now the Wilcher brothers are living out a dream as both are set to play in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

Simeon and No. 2 St. John’s will face John Calipari and No. 10 Arkansas at 2:40 here, while C.J. and No. 4 Texas A&M will meet No. 5 Michigan in Denver at 5:15 E.T.

“I think it’s special to be a part of two different Top 5-seed teams as siblings because you don’t see that that often,” C.J., who averaged 4.3 points this season as a graduate student for the Aggies, said by text from Denver.

The Wilcher parents have split up duties, with Sergio Wilcher with C.J., and Kimberly Wilcher supporting Simeon and St. John’s.

The brothers haven’t been able to speak directly since the tournament began, but C.J. did watch Simeon score 13 points in St. John’s 83-53 win over No. 15 Omaha Thursday night. And Simeon is looking for some tips on Arkansas from his brother, who played them in SEC action.

“I haven’t talked to him yet due to the time difference, and they played [Thursday] so I want to give him a chance to chill,” said Simeon, who is averaging 8.2 points under Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino. “He’s out there with my dad. I talked to my dad a little bit, but I’m going to talk to him later just to see anything, any tips on how they went about playing them during this season.”

Simeon is familiar with two Arkansas guards with local connections, former Camden High guard D.J. Wagner and former Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.) guard Boogie Fland, who returned Thursday after missing about two months after thumb surgery.

“I feel like it’s a full-circle moment,” Simeon said of facing Wagner. “A lot of respect for D.J., big up for him. He’s been having a great season. That’s great to see. Shout out to him, but we definitely had some really good games against each other.”

Wilcher and Roselle Catholic beat Wagner and Camden en route to the final New Jersey Tournament of Champions title in 2022.

“Unfortunately it’s not around anymore due to the state not really feeling like other teams could compete with teams that could recruit and stuff, which is understandable,” Simeon said of the TOC, which Roselle. Catholic won four times. “Our junior year we were able to play in the last one they ever had at Rutgers. It was a great game. It was an overtime game. Overtime game, great game, great environment.”

Former Roselle Catholic and current College Achieve coach Dave Boff can’t wait to see Saturday’s St. John’s-Arkansas game.

“Really excited to watch Sim and DJ compete at the highest level,” he said. “Their battles in high school are historically great, including the final TOC where Simeon led us to a win in one of the greatest games in New Jersey history.”

Simeon and C.J. Wilcher, who overlapped for one year at Roselle Catholic, are actually two of seven former Lions in the NCAA Tournament.

“I’m sure everyone in New Jersey is locked in on that game, but New Jersey is represented well throughout the bracket,” Boff said.

As for the Wilcher brothers, they will both play Saturday with spots in the Sweet 16 on the line.

“It’s just amazing,” Simeon said. “It’s something that we both dreamed about doing since we were younger and I can’t even tell you how my parents feel because it’s hard for them to break it into words, too.”

The only way they could meet would be in the national semifinals at the Final Four in San Antonio.

And C.J. says don’t rule it out.

“I honestly think we have a chance to play each other in the later rounds,” he said.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter and Basketball Insider for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.

DJ

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ - The South Plainfield Borough Council holds its second regularly scheduled meeting on March 17 at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Building. On the agenda for the Monday meeting is a special proclamation for Alex Grajko in recognition of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week, which takes place from March 9 through March 15. Also, on the agenda is a property auction for Block 85, Lot 2, one ordinance and nine resolutions, including advertising and opening up bids for crossing guards for 2025-26 and authorizing a service contract with Ocean Computer Group Inc., to provide weekly tech support.

Monday's meeting will have an Executive Session with three items on the agenda, including contractual discussions for the library and recycling. The complete agenda for the March 17 meeting of the South Plainfield Borough Council can be found on the South Plainfield Borough website.

Residents can attend the March 17 borough council meeting in person at the South Plainfield Municipal Building at 2480 Plainfield Avenue. The meeting will also be livestreamed. South Plainfield residents can access the meeting live by following the virtual directions on the South Plainfield Borough website. A recorded video of the March 17 meeting will be available for viewing as well on the borough website later in the week.

April meeting dates for the South Plainfield Borough Council are Monday, April 7 and Monday, April 21.

03-17-25_Agenda__2_.pdf

196.99 KB PDF FILE

SHOW PDF

Find TAPinto South Plainfield on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Sign up for email news alerts and Download the TAPinto mobile app for Android or iOS. to get all the news as it happens.

Are you a business interested in reaching our audience? Contact Darlene Cullen at dcullen@tapinto.net.

Celebrating Something Special? Showcase your wedding, Christening, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Graduation, Reunion and more on TAPinto Milestones.