88th UCBA Hot Stove Dinner – Clark, NJ

88th Union County Baseball Association “Hot Stove” Awards Dinner

Since the first Union County “Hot Stove” event in 1937, the Union County Baseball Association has aimed to provide an outstanding program for the many baseball enthusiasts who attend the awards dinner each year.

The Union County Baseball Association will induct new members into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame at the organization’s 88th Annual Hot Stove awards dinner on Sunday, February 2, 2025, beginning at 1:00 p.m., at The Gran Centurions in Clark, New Jersey.

The dinner will begin with this year’s featured guest speaker, former Major League Baseball player, Steve Balboni.

This year’s Union County Baseball Hall of Fame inductees include:

Brian Ciemniecki, was an All-State baseball player at Westfield High School where he also excelled in basketball and football. Upon graduating from Westfield High School he attended Colgate University but after one year he transferred to Rutgers University where he continued his outstanding baseball career.

Mike Chalenski, was an outstanding athlete at David Brearley High School in Kenilworth playing both football and baseball. In baseball he played first base and pitcher. He was named to the All-Mountain, All-Metro, All County and All-State teams. Despite his stellar baseball career, Mike opted to play football in college, starting at Pitt and then transferring to UCLA where he was a three year starter at defensive end.

Mike Liloia, was a three year starter for Union High School. As a pitcher for the Farmers, he was their #1 pitcher for the legendary Gordy Le Matty, he garnered All-County honors during his junior and senior years. He later excelled at Monmouth University and had 16 wins, with 219 strike outs in 258 innings.

Clint Factor, was an outstanding player for the Westfield Blue Devils where he gained All-County honors during his junior and senior years. He was named to the 2nd team All-State team during his junior year and he was honored as a First Teamer during his senior year. He continued his baseball career at the University of Tennessee and Seton Hall University.

Phil Orsini, was an outstanding outfielder for Westfield High School. He continued his education and baseball career at the University of Rhode Island. After graduating from URI he became a math teacher at Elizabeth High School. Phil was instrumental in the growth and development of the Scotch Plains PAL and the youth softball leagues. In 2023, Phil was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and he lost the fight in 2024.

In addition, we will be honoring the members of the 1983 Elizabeth High School Baseball Team led by Ray Korn and the 1984 Union Catholic High School Baseball Team led by Jim Revel.

Other awards being given out at this year’s dinner include:

Joseph R. Lombardi Memorial Award for Outstanding Female Athlete of Union County

Chris Zusi Memorial Award for Outstanding Male Athlete of Union County

Union County Baseball Association Academic Scholarship

John Langan Memorial Award

Sponsored by the Union County Baseball Association, in cooperation with the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation and the Union County Board of Commissioners, the Hot Stove League awards dinner is the primary annual fund-raising effort for the Union County Youth Baseball Leagues. The summer and fall leagues have given more than 50,000 boys and girls an opportunity to participate in an organized baseball program for the past 80 years.

For more information, visit www.UCBA-NJ.org; write to the Union County Baseball Association, PO Box 176, Fanwood, New Jersey 07023; email: info@ucba-nj.org, or call Jim Iozzi, UCBA president, at 908-917-2523.