Bill Batewell’s spirit is still alive on Long Island baseball diamonds. Several Sachem alumni are serving as head and assistant coaches across the island and many came together in April to scrimmage one another in his honor.
Organized by Joe Murphy, a former player of Batewell’s and a longtime assistant at Sachem and Bellport, the round robin scrimmage event was held as a fundraiser for a scholarship in coach’s name and a future memorial at Bellport’s baseball field.
Batewell passed away in 2021 and the baseball field at Sachem North was named in his honor that summer.
Murphy and John Clark’s Bellport team was joined by Paul Parsolano at St. Anthony’s, Al Nucci at Smithtown West, Tom Gambino, Gary Comstock, and Glen Davis at Sachem North and Kevin Schnupp at Sachem East.
“It was a great day for all the teams and players,” said Murphy. “We are expecting to do this each year as a fundraiser and to include the former players and their teams who could not attend this year due to scheduling conflicts.”
Photo courtesy Axcess Baseball