The Governor Livingston baseball team competes hard every day to put its best product on the field.
The Highlanders also care more about just the game.
An example of that will be on display Saturday morning at 11 when they host Union County Conference-crossover foe Rahway at Snyder Park in Berkeley Heights in a game that will raise money for cancer awareness.
The beneficiary will be Mike O’Connor, 31, who is the son of Rich O’Connor. The elder O’Connor was an assistant coach at Montclair State when GL head coach Chris Roof and GL assistant coach Ralph Yezza played there.
O’Connor also just completed his 30th season as an assistant football coach at MSU. He is the offensive coordinator and in charge of the quarterbacks on head coach Rich Giancola’s staff.
“We’re playing for Mike O’Connor, who just recently beat leukemia,” Roof said. “Mike’s dad was mine and Ralph Yezza’s assistant college baseball coach at MSU, who we dearly admire and love.
“We would do anything for Coach O for all that he’s done for the both of us.”
Roof said that the GL baseball program has already raised $2,000, which included a hit-a-thon.
Roof also said that the O’Connor family, including Mike, will be in attendance at Saturday’s game, in addition to former MSU baseball teammates of Roof and Yezza.
“We heard about what happened to Mike and thought this would be a good idea,” Roof said. “It’s a good cause and a great thing for our kids to be a part of for a great family.”
NOTES: With rain in the forecast for Saturday, Roof said that next Saturday – May 18 – is a possible rain date for the game and event.
GL snapped a two-game losing streak Thursday night when it turned back Westfield 8-2 at Snyder Park in Union County Conference-Watchung Division play.
The Highlanders, 11-8 overall, are now 3-5 in the Watchung Division, with division games remaining at Linden Tuesday, Union home Thursday, at Scotch Plains next Friday and at Cranford May 21.
Rahway is 7-10 overall and will host Hillside Friday at 3 p.m. in UCC-Valley Division play. The Indians are 5-2 in the Valley Division, with division games remaining Friday home vs. Hillside, Tuesday at Hillside and next Friday home vs. St. Mary’s, Elizabeth.