By Laura D.C. Kolnoski
RUMSON – A brilliant sun and an array of relatives, friends and neighbors welcomed Matthew and Kevin “Pookie” Alter back to their front lawn July 31 for the annual Alter Stickball Tournament in support of Homes For Our Troops.
Begun by the brothers with support from their parents Janet and John, the event is in its 14th year, although last year’s tourney was canceled due to the pandemic. It has traveled, too, as Kevin, now a captain in the U.S. Marines, continued it while he was stationed elsewhere. Each year new friends and fellow military personnel join the party with a purpose, while relatives and longtime friends made the trek to continue their support.
As of last week, the amount raised this year was about $35,000 and counting, the most in the event’s history, Kevin said. Both brothers are graduates of Rumson-Fair Haven High School. In 2011, Kevin led the school’s basketball team to its first Shore Conference Tournament final and continued playing hoops while at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, where he was unanimously selected team captain in his senior year.
“As we get older and our lives get busier, I am always blown away by friends and family who are willing to travel far and wide to support this event,” Kevin said of the stickball tourney. “One friend even called to ask what the stickball date was this year to avoid conflicts with his own wedding date! This event means so much to me as it is a way to reminisce about our childhood days and play a game we love while supporting a cause we love.”
This year’s tournament carried special meaning as Kevin will be soon be leaving for a year in Thailand where he will be working at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok. Friends and family are already planning to travel there to continue their participation in the friendly – yet sometimes fierce – competition. Prior to his departure, Kevin is getting married in Carmel, California, to Alexandrea Cepeda, whom he met while stationed in The Golden State.
“Every place I have been stationed we have managed to keep the stickball tournament going,” Kevin noted. “We won’t let being stationed across the world stop us from having it.”
Veteran Michael Minard of Union Beach, flanked by Matthew Alter, left, and Kevin Alter, right, represented Homes For Our Troops prior to the annual Alter Stickball Tournament and stayed to cheer on participants all day. Laura D.C. Kolnoski
Assembled across the Alter’s front lawn on the Avenue of Two Rivers were attendees from Miami, Dallas, Los Angeles and points in New Jersey including Berkeley Heights, Hoboken and Barnegat. In addition to the Alter parents providing breakfast, hot dogs, subs and more, aunts made lunch and home-baked cookies. Popular longtime umpire Uncle Donny Russo of Linden again kept things fair.
“Playing on the field where we first started brought back some great memories,” said Matthew Alter, who now lives in North Carolina with his wife Erin. The pair is expecting their first child in October. “We always wanted to return to New Jersey and play it again in the front yard. There are so many unique obstacles, which makes ‘Alter Field’ irreplaceable. The amount of fans who attend create a great atmosphere.”
The elder Alter brother said he’s only missed one year in the tournament’s history, which “still haunts me to this day.”
Among the members of the nine teams that played this year was 1st Lt. Kevin Wingate, currently stationed at McGuire Air Force Base, whom Kevin met in San Diego.
“I’m originally from Pensacola, Florida, where I played baseball in high school, but I had never heard of stickball,” he said during a break in the action. “Once I got to New Jersey, I asked Kevin when it would be because I wanted to be involved.”
Representing Homes For Our Troops was veteran Michael Minard of Union Beach, who shared his own emotional story prior to the first pitch.
“Matthew and Kevin’s commitment to fundraising over the years is amazing,” Minard said. “This is an outstanding event for a wonderful cause. Homes For Our Troops takes very little. Most goes to the mission. It makes a huge difference in numerous lives and makes substantial improvements in many aspects of the lives of the veterans we help.”
Homes For Our Troops is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that builds new custom homes for severely injured veterans and provides ongoing support.
“My parents are the ones we really owe all the success to,” Matthew said. “My dad allows us to ruin his pristine yard for a day and my mom has to deal with 50-plus males running in and out of the house. Also, major thanks to our relatives and close friends for always providing help with the food and field preparation.”
“We hope to continue the tournament until we can hopefully pass it on to our kids,” Kevin said. To donate and learn more, visit Homes For Our Troops at hfotusa.org.
The article originally appeared in the August 12 – 18, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.
