Sports

County Officials Honor Belleville High School's Baseball Coach

Essex Freeholders honored Belleville High School’s Baseball Coach, Joseph Sorce, Jr., during its Wednesday, Oct. 23 Meeting.

Sorce was named The Star-Ledger’s 2013 Essex County Baseball “Coach of the Year." The Board’s commendation was co-sponsored and presented by Freeholders Rufus Johnson of Newark and Brendan Gill of Montclair.

“Tonight it gives me great pleasure to honor not only a really good guy, but also an outstanding baseball coach, and his name is Joseph Sorce, Jr., the Head Coach at Belleville H. S.," said Freeholder Johnson, who spoke of his great respect for Sorce’s efforts.

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Sorce’s 2013 team posted an overall record of 23-4, was undefeated in its division (15-0), and made a great run in the State Tournament all the way to the Sectional Semifinals. Nine players were named to the Super Essex Conference’s All-Conference Team.

Sorce has been Belleville High's Varsity Baseball Coach since 2007, and he served as an Assistant Coach for five years previously and was a physical education teacher in the Belleville Public Schools for the last 14 years.

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He is the Head Coach of the Belleville Senior American Legion Team in the summer, and was named both the Essex County representative and a coach for the Union/Essex Underclassmen All-Star Game, which was first played in June of 2010. Prior to his arrival in Belleville, Sorce was the Head Coach at Leonia H.S. and an assistant coach for 10 years at Immaculate Conception, Plainfield, Arthur L. Johnson, Nutley and Dover high schools.

Coach Sorce earned his B.A. in Physical Education & Health and his Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Kean University. He lives in Colonia with his wife, Karen, and their daughter Jenna.

Sorce thanked the Belleville Board of Education, Principal Russell Pagano, Vice Principal George Droste, Athletic Director Thomas D’Elia, “and of course, my family.” He thanked Freeholders Johnson and Gill, saying, “It truly is an honor for me to be here tonight, and I appreciate it.”

Belleville High School’s Principal, Russell Pagano, and Vice Principal George Droste also attended the ceremony at the Hall of Records.

 


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