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A fixture and very productive player in Mercer County slow-pitch for 40 years, Frank DiRe will join The Trenton Softball Hall of Fame’s Men’s Player Division at its 40th annual Induction and Scholarship Awards dinner on April 30.
A smooth-fielding shortstop and high-average hitter, DiRe got his start in softball at the age of 16 and he did it on a high level as a member of the RJ Garage team of the competitive Mercer American League in 1980.
By the time he was finished in 2019, DiRe played for four decades in both the Hamilton Recreation and Mercer County Park Commission’s Leagues.
Among the many successful teams he played for was Princeton Mortgage, which won five titles in either the Mercer American or Mercer Major leagues from 2002 to 2008 as well as several tournaments.
DiRe also ably handled the shortstop position on the A-1 Safe & Lock, PJM, New Jersey Law, and Aircare teams that won multiple championships in either the Mercer American or Hamilton A leagues.
At the end of his distinguished career, DiRe was as a member of the Princeton Van Service squad that managed to win four titles from 2015 to 2019 in the Mercer Over-50 League.
DiRe also has an impressive resume when it comes to tournament play. He was on the Princeton Van Service team that won three New Jersey Over-50 state crowns.
In addition, he played shortstop for the JK Construction team that won a – Tournament title in 2006 and the Altimore Concrete squad that won two Swingfest titles. In 2012 he played for the Villa Mannino squad, which won the Ocean City Tournament in Maryland.
The fact DiRe was an excellent fielder and reliable hitter led to him having a distinguished career in singles tournaments.
The many teams he played for in singles tournaments were Joe T’s, Zappleys, Fearless Logo and Design, and Security Dynamics. As a member of those teams as well as others, DiRe ended up being part of nearly 20 singles tournament championship teams.
In addition to DiRe, this year’s inductees in the Men’s Player Division are Charles Maxwell, Mike Matto, Mark Drew, Eddie Rosado and Chris Russell. The women’s players who will be inducted are Patty Kinghorn and Kerin Pearson.
In addition, Frank Pasquito will be inducted in the Player/Manager Division, and Princeton’s Van Service’s Lou Decibus is this year’s inductee in the Sponsorship Division.
Six current high school athletes who play either softball or baseball will also receive scholarships.
The banquet, which lasts from 4 to 8 p.m., will be held on the Sunday of April 30 at John Henry’s Stone Terrace in Hamilton Township. Tickets are $65 per person and can be purchased by calling Artie Kearns at 609-771-6143 or Ed Fedorko at 609-226-6648.
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