RWJBarnabas has been named the presenting sponsor for the upcoming Last Dance Baseball Tournament and is helping JSZ bring you extensive coverage of the 222 team event over three weeks in July
The 222 team Last Dance World Series baseball tournament is almost here and the support of this amazing event continues to grow.
RWJBarnabas is the title sponsor of the three-week winner take all tournament and will enhance JSZ’s coverage presenting Last Dance Top Plays. Following each round of the tournament, the top plays captured by JSZ cameras will be shown on Friday with fans getting the chance to vote for the Top Play through the weekend. The winner will get a JSZ Game Ball and a presentation with the entire team.
Here’s the press release to announce RWJBarnabas as the presenting sponsor:
RWJBarnabas Health, the largest and most comprehensive academic health care system in New Jersey, has been named the presenting sponsor of the New Jersey “Last Dance” World Series.
Created to support high school student-athletes who missed out on the opportunity to compete for their schools during the spring baseball season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the New Jersey “Last Dance” World Series, presented by RWJBarnabas Health, will kick off with pool play July 14-16 at nearly 60 sites across the state.
Barry H. Ostrowsky, RWJBarnabas Health president and CEO. (Photo: ~Courtesy of Thomas/Boyd Communications)
“We applaud the organizers for creating this special event to showcase the talented student-athletes that missed out on so much this year,” said Barry H. Ostrowsky, President and Chief Executive Officer, RWJBarnabas Health. “The safety of the players, coaches, umpires, administrators and fans is the top priority, and the event staff has shown us a comprehensive plan to follow the necessary guidelines from the CDC and NJ Health Department.”
Among the steps taken to maintain safety, the tournament committee has adopted all protocols and procedures from the state to conduct the event safely. This includes the integration of infrared thermometers for every site and additional PPE to adhere to all safety guidelines.
Mike Murray Jr., center, with former St. Joseph baseball stars Matt and Jon Sot. (Photo: ~submitted photo)
“We are taking our role very seriously in having rock solid infrastructure and protocols to be an example of youth sports conducted properly to hopefully give us a better understanding of what we’ll need for fall sports,” said Mike Murray, Jr., the athletic director and head baseball coach at St Joseph High School in Metuchen.
“We do believe youth sports can be a sanctuary and critical to mental health of those participating and involved.”
More than 220 teams from across the state will be competing on behalf of their communities in the tournament, as this event will serve as the final playing opportunity for the Class of 2020, encompassing more than 2,500 players.
Several participating players are family members and friends of the 35,000 employees across RWJBarnabas Health, further aligning the health care system with the event.
Logo for the New Jersey “Last Dance” World Series, presented by RWJBarnabas Health (Photo: ~submitted)
The New Jersey “Last Dance” World Series, presented by RWJBarnabas Health, is broken into 32 eight-team regionals. The 32 regional champions will then compete in a single-elimination tournament at minor league stadiums throughout New Jersey.
The event culminates with the championship game at 7 p.m. on July 31 at Arm & Hammer Park in Trenton.
Added Mr. Ostrowsky, “RWJBarnabas Health is committed to making a meaningful impact on the communities we serve, and this is an opportunity to reinforce our support for New Jersey student-athletes, in a safe environment.”
About RWJBarnabas Health
RWJBarnabas Health is the largest, most comprehensive academic health care system in New Jersey, with a service area covering nine counties with five million people. The system includes eleven acute care hospitals – Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, Community Medical Center in Toms River, Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, RWJUH in New Brunswick, RWJUH Somerset in Somerville, RWJUH Hamilton, RWJUH Rahway and Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston; three acute care children’s hospitals and a leading pediatric rehabilitation hospital with a network of outpatient centers, a freestanding 100-bed behavioral health center, two trauma centers, a satellite emergency department, ambulatory care centers, geriatric centers, the state’s largest behavioral health network, comprehensive home care and hospice programs, fitness and wellness centers, retail pharmacy services, a medical group, multi-site imaging centers and an accountable care organization. 
RWJBarnabas health is the presenting sponsor of the New Jersey “Last Dance” World Series (Photo: bhuser)
RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey’s largest private employer – with more than 35,000 employees, 9,000 physicians and 1,000 residents and interns – and routinely captures national awards for outstanding quality and safety. RWJBarnabas Health in partnership with Rutgers University is creating New Jersey’s largest academic health care system.
The collaboration aligns RWJBarnabas Health with Rutgers’ education, research and clinical activities, including those at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey – the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center – and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.