Jim Rueb (center), Director of Event Operations at Diamond Nation, with the six Del Val players who work at the complex: from left, Allison Moschberger, Julia DeFrange, Riley Liskowacki, Maci Little, Ava Figalora and Brooklyn Liskowacki.
By Sean Reilly
The thousands of young baseball and softball athletes who compete each year at Diamond Nation know that it’s a great place to play the game that they love.
There’s another group of high school and college students who also find that ‘The Nation’ is additionally a great place to work during the spring, summer and fall in a variety of roles.
Some are especially fortunate — they get to do both at the complex in Flemington.
A case in point are the six members of the Delaware Valley High School softball team who also work at Diamond Nation.
On May 18, Del Val held its Senior Night game against Hackettstown on Field 2, followed by a post-game reception in the adjacent scout tower.
Two of the five honored players – seniors Allison Moschberger and Brooklyn Liskowacki — work at Diamond Nation. Four of their teammates — sophomores Riley Liskowacki, Maci Little, Ava Figalora and Julia DeFrange — also work at ‘The Nation,” performing important tasks like handling the front desk admissions/check-in and operating scoreboards.
Diamond Nation worker Brooklyn Liskowacki lights into one batting leadoff for Delaware Valley.
Jim Rueb, the Director of Event Operations at Diamond Nation, made sure to be on hand for the game to recognize and present Allison and Brooklyn with flowers, along with the other Del Val seniors. Last year, he did the same when Hunterdon Central — with several Diamond Nation workers on its roster — played the team’s Senior Night game on the grounds.
Managing the work force is a key part of Rueb’s job, and he takes great joy interacting with and mentoring the young employees.
“It’s important to help young people to develop in their lives,” Rueb said. “I can teach them lessons of things that I’ve been through that can help them in the future. Things like being on time and multi-tasking, they may seem like little things now, but it can help them. They also make new friends. One of my favorite stories is how two of the guys who worked here from different high schools became best friends. I think we foster a good environment.”
At a time when finding a part-time job is no easy thing for high school kids and college students home for the summer, working at Diamond Nation is indeed a tremendous way to make money, have fun and meet new people while being around sports. It’s also a place where siblings can work together, like the Liskowacki sisters. Likewise, Moschberger’s sisters, Katie and Morgan — have worked in concessions.
The Liskowacki’s are both in their second year working at ‘The Nation.’
“Softball is my whole life. Once I turned 14, I thought it was time to start getting a job and making money, so I reached out, came to the annual meeting, filled out the paperwork and got started,” said Riley Liskowacki, who works in admissions and operating scoreboards. “I absolutely love working here. The environment is great, the people are so nice and Jim is such a great boss. He’s so chill and the hours are great.”
Delaware Valley sophomore Riley Liskowacki (left) and her senior sister Brooklyn work at Diamond Nation, which was also the scene of Del Val’s Senior Night game on Monday.
Brooklyn Liskowacki is in her first year working at Diamond Nation as a buildup to her attending Drew University, where she’ll major in Math and Finance.
“I love working here, and I’ve met so many people,” she said. “I used to play here, and then my sister got a job, so then I came and got a job this year. Everyone is really nice. I love being around sports, so this is great. And Jim is the best boss I’ve ever had. He’s very reasonable with everyone.”
Moschberger will be attending Stockton University in the fall, where she’ll study Forensic Psychology. At Diamond Nation, she operates scoreboards.
“It’s great working here,” she said. “It’s the people and environment that make it so much fun. Playing softball made it so much easier to be able to ‘scoreboard,’ and it’s a great way to pass the time.”
The Delaware Valley girls are also in the midst of an excellent season — Senior Night resulted in a 7-0 win over Hackettstown that improved the team to 20-3. The start of the NJSIAA state tournament lies ahead next week.
“This year has been great,” Brooklyn Liskowacki said. “We’ve been playing well and as a team. We’ve become a family, so it’s helped us on the field.”
“It’s really cool to play our Senior Night here,” Moschberger said. “We’ve had a really good season. It’s the biggest wish I could have asked for. The seniors have worked so hard for four years and this is the best our team has been.”