***MEDIA ADVISORY***
15-YEAR-OLD COMMUNITY LEADER TO HOST 2ND ANNUAL YOUTH BASEBALL GAME IN PATERSON
Ajay Tolia Unites Young Athletes From Oasis – A Haven for Women and Children with the Wladyka Baseball Club and Delbarton Athletics
Paterson, NJ—On Thursday, May 29, 2025, Mayor Andre Sayegh will join 15-year-old community leader Ajay Tolia for the Youth Get Next (YGN) 2nd annual Baseball Scrimmage Game, a dynamic event that brings together young baseball players from Oasis, the Wladyka Baseball Club and the Delbarton School Athletics Program.
This 2nd annual scrimmage game represents a major milestone in high school freshman Ajay Tolia’s mission to introduce baseball and increase access to youth in underserved communities. Over the past two years, Ajay has worked closely with students in both Newark and Paterson, with a particular focus on Oasis in Paterson. What began as tutoring sessions for 3rd and 4th graders evolved into nearly weekly baseball clinics, held for 20–30 students in the Oasis parking lot.
With support from community partners Jim Wladyka and teammates from the Wladyka Baseball Club, John Hunt the General Manager of the NJ Jackals, Brian Verhasselt from the Hinchliffe Stadium and Tony Negrin Director of Athletics at the Delbarton School, Ajay has developed a full-scale program. This program includes an equipment drive which successfully collected essential baseball gear for the Oasis students, instructional baseball clinics and a live scrimmage. This year in preparation for this event, Ajay organized a special Delbarton School field trip, giving Oasis students the opportunity to experience a high school baseball game. Key contributors to this year’s program include Matt Palmieri from Don Bosco Prep and Sean Fialcowitz from the Delbarton School, who will play an integral role in running the event.
The game will take place at the historic Hinchliffe Stadium, prior to a New Jersey Jackals game, providing Oasis students with a unique opportunity to play in a professional setting. The experience includes use of the scoreboard, dugouts, and time with Jackals players giving the young athletes a true taste of the game-day experience.
When:
Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 4PM
What:
15 Year-Old Community Leader Hosts 2nd Annual Baseball Scrimmage for Paterson Youth
Who:
Mayor Andre Sayegh, City of Paterson
Ajay Tolia, Youth Get Next
Youth Participants from Oasis - a Haven for Women and Children
Members of the Wladyka Baseball Club
Members of the NJ Jackals
Members of the Paterson Community
Members of the Paterson City Council
