Little Leaguers pay tribute to the 'voice of Sayreville' Picnic pavilion named after well-known announcer, manager BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer CHRIS KELLY staff Tim Ortiz, 11, along with fellow baseball players, holds his hat over his heart as the national anthem is sung at the opening day ceremonies of the Sayreville Little League Saturday. The ceremonies included a dedication of the new pavilion to Scott Douglas. SAYREVILLE - The Sayreville Little League dedicated its new pavilion to Scott R. Douglas on opening day Saturday. Douglas, a dedicated member of the Sayreville Recreation Association and the Sayreville Little League Association, passed away after a yearlong battle with cancer on Jan. 10. He died at his home in the Melrose section of Sayreville with his family beside him. Douglas earned the title "the voice of Sayreville" for the announcing he did at district and playoff games. He was also a Little League baseball manager for many years and won numerous championships with his teams. Douglas, 51, was born in Elizabeth but resided in Melrose his entire life. He was employed at Hess Oil Corp. in Bayonne for the last 34 years, where he supervised trucking. Terri Campbell, whose husband coached with Douglas on several teams, told the Suburban that Douglas' family was presented with a plaque in tribute to him. She added that there were hundreds at the dedication ceremony. "He really was known for being the 'voice of Sayreville,' " Campbell said. "He would be the announcer for all of our games. He was well known not only in our town for this, but for other leagues that came to our ball field." The picnic pavilion that was dedicated to Douglas is newly built this year, Campbell said. "He worked with brain-injured children in town," Campbell said of Douglas. Douglas is survived by his wife of 25 years, Mary, and their daughter, Erin, and two sons, Eric and Jeff. All three children played in the Little League program. "His whole life revolved around baseball," Campbell said. Borough Councilman Daniel Buchanan acknowledged Douglas' contribution to the Recreation Department, which Buchanan serves on as a liaison. "He was hard-working for the Recreation Department and for the kids of Sayreville," Buchanan said. "[The pavilion dedication] was an honor well deserved. He went above and beyond the call of duty to our town. He is going to be sadly missed at the Recreation Department. Council President Thomas Pollando, who is president of the Sayreville Athletic Association, also expressed his gratitude for Douglas' service to the community. "I knew Scott for many years," Pollando said. "He was a great man … a great family man."