On Saturday, June 16, 2012 The North Central District Elk Lodges sponsored a batting competition for boys and girls ages 7-16 in Bloomfield, Cedar Grove, Newark and Harrison.  The competition took place at Pulaski Park in Bloomfield.

During the competition, each batter got 10 pitches from a pitching machine. The farther the ball was hit, the more points he or she scored; the highest scores in each age group won.  Highest score in each age group then qualified for regional competition, which will be followed by the state competition to take place at Deerwoods Park in Howell Township in July/August.  

Hot dogs and soft drinks were provided for all to enjoy. Cedar Grove Elks, Vincent DiMattia, North Central District Youth Activities Chairman, along with Joe Franchino, organized this event.

This event would not have been possible without the help from the town of Bloomfield's Recreation Department and Recreation Director Mike Sceurman.  Mr. Sceurman gave the elks permission to use Pulaski Field, provided all the cones, and the Bloomfield High School Varsity Baseball Team under Coach Mike Policastro provided the pitching machine and the batting Tees. 30 children along with their families participated in this competition.

Districts represented for this competition were Cedar Grove Elks Lodge #2237: Vincent DiMattia, Joe Franchino, Donald and Regina Guth, Sue Dupas and Richard Kroll; Newark/Bloomfield Elks Lodge # 21:Marguerite Aisenstock and Kevin Doherty, and Harrison East Newark Elks Lodge #2326:Kathy Taft.