Illiano noted that his 2006 team had struggled out of the gates with a 5-4 record as prospects of a strong season did not appear to be very promising as April was moving along.

However, the tone of the entire season then started to change, spurred on by the players taking accountability and addressing a troubling situation as the Knights were not handling Decision Time very well at all, including three 1-run losses in the early going that spring.

“(Senior catcher) Johnny Baub broke the ice,” Illiano recalled. “He talked about how the game was beating us to death and how expectations and the pressure of the game were affecting our performance.

“This was not some ‘rah-rah’ pep speech from a coach; it was our players on their own coming to this great paradox of baseball which is, ‘Go out there and be intense, but don’t tense up!”

Everything came together for those chemistry-laden Knights over the next few weeks capped by an amazing GNT championship victory as David was able to hurl its proverbial stone and effectively strike and ultimately conquer the mighty Goliath under those bright lights in Bears Stadium.

“How did this improbable team go from being ‘The Bad News Bears’ to ‘Cinderella,’” Illiano asked the attentive crowd. “I don’t really know, but maybe it’s best summarized by a Latin phrase first spoken by St. Augustine: ‘With Love & Diligence Anything Is Possible.’

“It is with love and diligence that a 5-4 team filled with doubt can go out and win 14 of their next 15 games and wind up 19-5 while dog-piling on top of each other in Bears Stadium under the brightest stadium lights and the largest high school crowd that I ever remember, having just beat the No. 1 team in the country!

“As the No. 15 seed we became the lowest-seeded team to ever win the GNT, and for the first time in our school’s 46-year history we were Greater Newark Tournament champions!

“As (senior shortstop and leadoff batter) Mark Ruggiero said in his best Yogi-ism, ‘It was the best day of my life four weeks in a row!”

Those 2006 Knights have moved on to various careers, including as an accountant, an electrician, a military veteran, a chief executive officers, a real estate agent, a veterinarian, a manager of a homeless shelter, a financial advisor, and a musician.

Baub, the very reliable battery mate for the Knights pitchers, is now a seasoned, veteran guitar player who has done extensive session work and has also enjoyed having a couple of concert tours opening up for the legendary Rolling Stones.

The memories of 20 years ago with a very special West Essex team are indeed quite special to him, but so also is the continuation of success for the current-day Knights.

“It feels like yesterday, and it’s definitely amazing to be able to reconnect and see coach Illiano and coach (Jim) Whalen and all the players on the team again.

“And, I also think it is a great opportunity to celebrate the opening day of the current West Essex Knights team, and we wish them the best of success for the season ahead.

“I’m so grateful to be here, remember a great team to have been a part of, and also to see a tremendous baseball tradition continue with the players of today!”   

The Knights proceeded to hit well vs. Millburn pitching that afternoon and earned a season-opening 8-4 victory.

It proved to be quite the eventful debut for the 2006 Knights, and while he may be new to the West Essex diamond after a long and successful run alongside Ron Gavazzi at Montclair where the Mounties won a pair of GNT titles during their time together there, the Knights’ first-year head coach certainly helped make for one very special opening day for those who still honor the rich history of a solid diamond program at the North Caldwell-based regional high school.

“We were beyond flattered that Coach Anthony Genchi chose to honor our team before even coaching an inning at West Essex,” said Illiano. “It speaks volumes for the kind of man and leader he is as well as for the vision he has established for the program.

“West Essex is in great hands under his leadership!”   

NOTES- The 2006 players who were able to attend the March 31 pre-game ceremonies at West Essex were: Mark Ruggiero, Steve Zuraweicki, Anthony Dalonges, Dom Raimondo, John Baub, Kevin Picardo, Lawrence Caprio and Frank Firivanti…Illiano authored a book about the memorable season published in 2011 entitled, ‘Our Time: A High School Baseball Coach’s Journey’…Knights assistant coach Jim Whalen went on to have a stint as the head coach at Columbia High School in Maplewood…Tom Pengitore, who came aboard at West Essex in the fall of 1975 as the athletic trainer under the late, great Knights soccer coach and Athletic Director Ralph Dougan, later became the school’s AD and worked alongside Illiano during the latter’s successful reign as the team’s head coach...John Lesler, who is the familiar voice at Clifton Schools Stadium for Mustang football games and a friend of Genchi, provided a nice touch to the pre-game festivities for the season opener at West Essex with his introduction of players from the 2006 Knights squad plus highlighting the current teams from Millburn and West Essex....the current Wessex team returns a trio of veteran leaders in catcher and leadoff hitter Colin Fogg (2-for-4 with a triple and 2 runs in season opener) and fellow tri-catpains  Caden Lozito (right fielder, cleanup hitter and 3-for-4 with 2 RBI in opener) and top starting pitcher Jackson Lodgek (86 pitches, 4 2/3 IP, 5 HA, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K's for mound win in opener). Among the varsity newcomers to watch are junior shortstop and No.2 hitter Rocco Pontrella (3-for-4 with an RBI and 2 runs in opener) and freshman second baseman and No. 8 hitter Ethan Fiss (2-for-3 with a run vs. Millburn), who help make for a potentially deep lineup for the Knights this spring.                   

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