Don Bosco, Cliffside Park honor Ben Luderer before Last Dance baseball opener

RAMSEY — There were 111 baseball games across the state of New Jersey in the first day of the Last Dance World Series on Tuesday. One of those games held a greater meaning than the rest. 

Players from Don Bosco Prep (playing as the DiamondBacks) and Cliffside Park (playing in NJ Aviators uniforms) faced off in Day 1 of the Ramsey-Lakeland Regional. Before the game, the two teams honored Ben Luderer, who died from complications related to the coronavirus in March at 30 years old.

Last month, the event organizers announced that the winner of the North half of the single-elimination tournament will receive a trophy named after Luderer.

Luderer graduated from Don Bosco in 2008 and was the head baseball coach at Cliffside Park when he died.

Don Bosco players sported the initials BL inside of a home plate on the sleeves of their uniforms. Cliffside Park players were visibly emotional before the game and received a pep talk from Luderer's parents and widow, who were presented flowers by Cliffside Park players during the ceremony.

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Members of the undefeated 2008 Don Bosco baseball team, where Luderer was the starting catcher, were in attendance. The Ironmen finished 33-0 that year and were ranked No. 1 nationally by multiple media outlets. A dozen years after their perfect year, that team is still considered by many to be the greatest high school baseball team in state history.

"Ben was perfect," said Tim O'Sullivan, a pitcher on the 2008 Don Bosco team. "We were perfect that year. There were a bunch of guys on that team that the last thing they'd consider themselves is perfect, but one thing we can say about Ben was that he was perfect. He made everyone better around him."

The game was ultimately halted in the first inning due to rain, but sunlight peeked through the backstop of the diamond during the pregame ceremony. A beam of sunshine hung next to the Don Bosco alumni, as if Luderer stood with them.

"I think about him all the time, talk to him sometimes," O'Sullivan said. "It felt like he was on the field there with us."

It was also announced Tuesday that Luderer's No. 16 will be retired next season at Don Bosco, and a memorial scholarship has been established in his name. 

The Don Bosco staff surprised recent graduate Kevin Stefanski as the first recipient of the award. Stefanski graduated from Don Bosco this spring after playing as a catcher, Luderer's position, for the Ironmen.

The DiamondBacks went on to defeat Cliffside Park, 11-0. The host and top seed in the Ramsey-Lakeland Regional will face Pascack Valley on Wednesday evening in Day 2 of pool play. Pascack Valley defeated Ramsey, 8-4, in the first game at the site.

"Just getting everyone together and getting baseball back going, it's a sanctuary for a lot of people," O'Sullivan said. "Ben made it his career to work with kids and this is home for him."

Robert Aitken is a high school sports reporter for NorthJersey.com. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis from our Varsity Aces team, subscribe today. To get breaking news directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter and download our app. 

Email: aitken@northjersey.com Twitter: @robertaitkenjr