TOWN OF WALLKILL – Senator James Skoufis (D, Cornwall) is a long-suffering Mets fan, but he still loves baseball and was happy to be at Town of Wallkill’s Little League fields to kick off Memorial Day weekend.
Flanked by Town of Wallkill Supervisor George Serrano, Skoufis announced a $200,000 state grant obtained through his office to fund new lights for the fields.
“Supporting youth sports has always been a priority of mine,” Senator Skoufis said. “In addition to the fun kids have playing, there are lessons to be learned about teamwork, social responsibility, and work ethic by being part of a sports league. I was proud to bring this money right back here to Orange County for the betterment of Wallkill and every kid who plays under these new lights.”
“When I got into office I felt that it was only right that softball, the girls, should get lights also,” Serrano added. “I approached Senator (Skoufis) right away and he said ‘Sure, whatever you need.’ and we got the grant. Now we have lights for the boys and the girls. I appreciate Senator Skoufis getting this done and we look forward to having a great partnership with him in the future.”
Skoufis grew up playing Little League in Monroe and shared his experiences on the diamond. By his own admission, the Senator did not make anyone forget about Derek Jeter when he suited up.
“Depending on what year it was, I started out pitching and then I moved to third base,” Skoufis quipped. “I guess my skills degraded over time because I was stuck out in left field the last couple of years. I only got glasses when I went off to college. Anyone who has worn glasses for the first time, until that moment, they don’t realize how bad their vision is. I blame my eyesight for probably having a .100 average over those last few years.”
