New Haven Independent

About 50 kickball enthusiasts, mostly adults, gathered at the Amrhyn Field in West Rock Park Thursday after work. The evening was the brainchild of Alyson Fox (pictured at right), a young homeowner who recently left East Rock to buy a home in Westville. When she lived in East Rock, she and her friends used to play a little kickball in East Rock Park. She conceived of the idea as a way not just to revive a feel-good elementary school sport, but to “bridge our neighborhoods,” to “ease the tension between East and West.”

While they were summoning a slew of people to the field, she figured they should make the event a fundraiser, so she called up Solar Youth. A $20 entry drummed up cash for their environmental-themed youth programs.

Some local kids and Solar Youth alums showed up to the game. Joanne Sciulli, executive director and founder, put in a spirited performance. In the true spirit of reusability, she said, Solar Youth crafted “Kick It” T-shirts made of second-hand shirts and spray paint donated by Grand Paint.

The menu — chicken wings, wraps, burgers, mango slices, a keg of beer — came donated by East and West Rock stores.

After a practice game for the mixed-age crowd to remember, or learn, the rules, East Rockers and West Rockers lined up for the battle. Refs John Fallon and Adrienne Webb kept a sharp eye on the ball. (Full disclosure: This reporter kicked for the East.) Some highlights:

Solar Youth’s Gameliel Moses (pictured at left) made a dramatic dash to home base, only to miss the plate and get tagged by a sudden charge from first-baseman and East Rock Alderman Roland Lemar.

Sam Cubbison, 10, of the Spring Glen School in nearby Hamden, rolled a steady pitch for the West.

Fresh off a zoning victory this week, personal trainer Peter Chapman was the last East Rocker up to bat as the disappearing light accelerated the game’s end. A decisive line drive down third sent him for a tumble, recovering for a swift chase around the bases, securing East Rock a 3-2 win.

“Woooo!” Cried the East, taking a victory lap.

Both sides high-fived, stepping off the field to unite over beers. Solar Youth raised at least $1,100 that night. Kickballers stuck around for a raffle of gift certificates donated by East Rock and West Rock shops.

Victors clutched a golden trophy with a rock strapped to the top. “I think the fix was in,” grumbled West-side bicyclist Bill Kurtz, who scored a run for the West. “Both the refs were from East Rock.” A fleet of bikes took off together for the Arts & Ideas Festival.