Tom Williams Sports :: South Jersey Sports

Ocean City Ends Mainland's 36-Match Win Streak In Golf

Tom Williams NJ Shore Sports — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:41:17 GMT

Ocean City used a 2-under 33 by senior Justin Heckler to defeat Mainland, 153-164, this afternoon at Greate Bay in Somers Point. It was the sixth straight win for OCHS and ended a 36-match win streak by Mainland, dating back into 2006. Mainland was 17-0 last year and won the NJSIAA State Group 4 championship. The Mustangs had been13-0 this year.

Heckler registered three birdies in his round along with five pars and one bogie.

Ocean City Junior Sets Home Run Record

Tom Williams NJ Shore Sports — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:54:02 GMT

Ocean City High School junior Sean Feeney hit a home run today in the Raiders' 16-5 loss to Vineland and set a new school record. He became the first OCHS player to record a home run in three consecutive games.

Feeney, who leads the Raiders with 4 homers this year, also hit home runs in a 4-3 win over Hammonton on Wednesday and in a 10-4 loss to Oakcrest back on April 24. The Raiders did not play from April 24th until the 30th.

A versatile athlete, Feeney was a two-way starter in football and a substitute on the varsity baseball team.

OCHS Junior Brett Johnson Runs Fastest 1500 Meters In The Country

Tom Williams NJ Shore Sports — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:46:47 GMT

Brett Johnson, who won the NJSIAA State Group 3 championship in cross country last fall, ran the fastest 1500 meters in the United States this spring by finishing in 3 minutes, 53.71 seconds today. The effort took place at the Ironman Invitational at Don Bosco Prep.

Johnson is undefeated this season in the 800 and 1600 in dual meets.

Dennis Scuderi Jr. Named New Absegami Football Coach

Tom Williams NJ Shore Sports — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:45:47 GMT

Dennis Scuderi Jr. was named the successor to Doug Colman tonight as head football coach at Absegami.

Scuderi is no stranger to the Cape-Atlantic League. He was head coach at Middle Township for two years, compiling a 2-18 record, before leaving last year to become offensive coordinator at Fairleigh-Dickinson. But, soon after, he left FDU for Rutgers as Director of Recruiting Operations. Scuderi had served in a similar capacity at Rutgers in 2004, after he had been an assistant to his father at Camden Catholic. His father is now head football coach at St. Augustine Prep.

Colman left Absegami after five years, 40 wins, the school's only three CAL championships and the school's only six NJSIAA playoff wins. He has returned to the University of Nebraska where he played on two national championship teams.

OCHS Softball Team Ends 7-Game Losing Streak

Tom Williams NJ Shore Sports — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:37:52 GMT

Carly Treen and Shannon O'Neill delivered RBI hits in the top of the 9th inning and Gina Flavinger set down Middle Township in order in the bottom of the inning as Ocean City ended its 7-game losing streak with a 6-4 win over the Panthers.

The Raiders scored 3 times in the first inning with 5 singles. Middle eventually tied the score in the 4th and took a 4-3 lead in the 5th. Ocean City tied the score in the 6th on singles by Nicole Mangine and Kayla Iannace.

O'Neill had 4 hits in the game, including a pair of doubles. Mangine had 3 singles and Iannace added 2. Favinger struck out 12, walked 5 and limited Middle to 5 hits.

The Raiders (2-8) go to Lower Cape May Monday afternoon to face the other team they have defeated this season.

Ocean City-EHT Tennis Match Postponed

Tom Williams NJ Shore Sports — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:25:05 GMT

Because their two No. 1 singles players were exhausted after a heavy week, today's boys tennis match between Ocean City and Egg Harbor Township was postponed until May 6th.

Today's match would have been the 7th in 5 days for EHT's Keith Goldstein, who won his 3rd straight Cape-Atlantic League singles title yesterday. And it would have been the 6th in 5 days for Ocean City's Dan Barrus.

The postponement helps Ocean City, which would have been the underdog. Had the match been played, the Raiders (4-5) would have needed to win, then beat Absegami on Monday to qualify for the NJSIAA Group 3 Tournament. With today's match postponed, OCHS needs only to beat Gami to make the tournament.

Al Angelo Touched Many People - Including Area Coaches

Tom Williams NJ Shore Sports — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:18:28 GMT

To most Cape-Atlantic League fans, Al Angelo was a father and grandfather who spent his retirement years watching his son, Skip, coach and his grandsons, A.J. and Chris Harris, compete. But, before he retired to Upper Township, Angelo, who died over the weekend at age 77, earned the reputation as one of the finest football coaches in the Delaware Valley.

At Frankford High School in Philadelphia, Angelo won 184 games and lost just 39 in 21 seasons. His teams won 10 Public League championships and, in 1978, became the only Public League school to win a city championship in the final nine years of the series.

Gary Degenhardt, who became a pretty successful football coach himself, was part of Angelo’s first teams at Frankford, the teams that laid the groundwork for the future championships. “Back then I just saw him as a football coach,” Degenhardt said, “and I didn’t know exactly where he was coming from. But, as time passed, you began to understand what he was teaching. And, before you knew it, he became a mentor.”

Gary Hegh, the baseball coach at Mainland, gained 2,595 yards rushing for Frankford during his three seasons in Angelo’s lineup, including two Public League champions. “He had very good discipline techniques,” Hegh said. “He was a great communicator with kids, the best I’ve ever seen. He made us believe in ourselves. You never heard him swear and he always told you the truth, but he told it in a way that was beneficial to you.”

Dr. Al Harris was a very successful football player, playing on a national championship team at Penn State. He is married to Angelo’s daughter, Alisa, and is the father of A.J. and Chris Harris. He never played for his father-in-law but he knows from being around him why he was so successful. “He was very detail oriented,” said Harris. “He really cared about his players and was willing to work hard for them. He knew what football meant to his players and he was always there for them, always interested. He taught his players how to get the most out of themselves.”

John Pierantozzi, the retired football coach from Vineland High School, will never forget the way he met Angelo. “I was at a Penn State coaches clinic,” he said, “and when it was my turn, I stood up and told everyone about this old coach from Philadelphia who did three things we’d begun doing in Vineland – building a tackle pit, holding four tackling drills every day and, after their final game, we took our seniors back to the practice field for a ceremony and one last visit. When I finished, everybody was laughing. I couldn’t figure it out. Then this man raised his hand and said, ‘I’m the old coach from Philadelphia’. That was how I met Coach Angelo. It was an embarrassing start but we became good friends. He’d sometimes come to our Vineland practices and offer his comments.”

A former manager of Angelo’s teams in the mid-1970s, Michael Weick, offered some online comments at TedSilary.com about Angelo. “I met Al Angelo for the first time in the gym at Frankford. I was a skinny, painfully shy 15 year-old sophomore student. With knees wobbling and palms sweating, I somehow worked up enough courage to ask him if I could help out as team manager. Sensing my nervousness, Mr. Angelo put his arm around my shoulder, introduced me to his assistant, Ron Howley, and welcomed me to the Frankford Football fraternity. As you well know, we enjoyed great success, thanks to our beloved coach. We all know about the many championships but the real measurement of the man was that Mr. Angelo was a true gentleman who worked to ensure we all studied hard in school and represented Frankford in the proper way. Next to my dad, he was my hero growing up.”

Degenhardt, who went from Frankford to the University of Miami, used a lot of what he learned at Frankford in his own coaching career. “He believed in being tough,” Degenhardt said, “and executing properly. He wanted every kid to feel special. He especially took the time to reach out and make the role players feel special. I was lucky to have him as a mentor, lucky to have his son as a fellow coach and a friend. When Mr. Angelo talked football, if you listened, you’d always learn something.”

Hegh, who went on to Wake Forest after his successful high school career, talked about how Angelo had a strong effect on his personal life. “My dad passed away when I was a freshman in college,” he said, “and what he taught me got me through that. Then, within a year, a close friend also died and he helped me keep it together. I owe so much to him. He’s the reason I’m a teacher and a coach. There aren’t many Al Angelos around.”

During his 16-month battle with the cancer that took his life, Angelo kept pushing ahead. “He wanted to go down to Elon to see A.J. play,” said Harris, “but traveling wasn’t easy for him. So, we rented an RV and we just had a great time. Throughout his fight with cancer he was constantly setting goals. He’d tell me his next goal was to see A.J. play, or to see Chris play on Thanksgiving, or to be around for the Christmas tournament, or see a baseball game. His positive approach infected everyone around him.”

When his son, Skip, who is Ocean City’s golf coach, was the offensive coordinator of Degenhardt’s Raider football team, Angelo would often act as an advisor. “To have had him coach me when I was in high school and then to return to help me coach the Ocean City players was a great transition,” said Degenhardt. “He didn’t want to get in your way, he just wanted to help. Mr. Angelo never had bad words to say. He’d never disrespect you when he offered comments or criticism. He was a special man.”

In addition to Hegh and Degenhardt, at Frankford Angelo coached Blair Thomas, a star running back at Penn State who was No. 2 in the 1989 Heisman voting and a first round draft pick of the New York Jets. And he coached 11-year Detroit Tigers outfielder Bobby Higginson in football.

Those are great resume items – the championships, the professional athletes who came through your program, the great winning percentage. And he obviously had a powerful impact on a number of our area coaches. But for those of us who didn’t know Al Angelo as the coach at Frankford, those of us who saw him in the bleachers at CAL football and basketball games, he was just a gentle, caring man who treated everyone as though they were somebody special.

Former Philadelphia Eagle Dies in Upper Township

Tom Williams NJ Shore Sports — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:11:26 GMT

Bob Pellegrini was a very successful football player. He went from Shannock Valley (PA) High School to the University of Maryland, where he played on the 1953 team that won both the Atlantic Coast Conference championship and the NCAA National Championship. Pellegrini was selected an All-American on 1955 and was inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend in 1996.

Later, the talented college center would play mostly defense for the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins in a nine-year National Football League career. As he did at Maryland, he helped the Eagles win their only NFL title in 1960.

In between his success as a football player and his death last week at the age of 73, Pellegrini invested some of his time and talents in the Ocean City High School football program. His son, Bob, was a solid player for the Raiders, leading to that involvement.

“I can’t recall when I first met Bob,” said Ed Woolley, the highly successful OCHS football coach who later became one of the finest administrators in the history of the school district. “I think it was a couple of years before his son, Bobby, started to play football at OCHS. He had an older son who was in one of my history classes. Anyway, Bob was an original. He was a throwback to the old days of football. And he became a great supporter of our program – always attending the Archie Harris weekly meetings. I remember being at a scrimmage in Haddon Heights. I turned around and he is on the sideline coaching the kids. I say ‘coaching’ because, as I recall, he was giving them some tips on how to recover a fumble and what goes on at the bottom of pile.”

In addition to helping Ocean City players with their football skills Pellegrini, who was also an assistant coach with the Miami Dolphins, made other contributions to the Raiders. “He arranged and paid for one of the Maryland assistants to speak at our year end Archie Harris banquet,” said Woolley. “He and Harry Vanderslice had a wonderful relationship and I greatly enjoyed being around them, especially when they started to talk about Philadelphia and the Eagles.”

Woolley, who was South Jersey Back of the Year his senior year at Pitman and went on to play in the Rose Bowl for Michigan, learned first hand how popular Pellegrini was at his alma mater. “Bob was a great University of Maryland football player – an All American,” Woolley said. “One year he took Tony Galante and me down for the weekend to see Maryland’s Spring Game. It was a trip that, when I think about it, always brings a smile to my face. “First of all, the drive from Ocean City to College Park is normally about three to three and one-half hours. I know it well having been there for field hockey for my daughter, Abbey. Our trip with Bob driving took 2 hours and 20 minutes –tops!

“Once we got there it was like we were with a king. Wherever we went, walking the campus, out for dinner, our hotel, etc., they all knew Bob. People would see him and yell, ‘hey Pelle’. He would, of course, respond to each of them like they were his long lost friend. I don’t think we paid for dinner as the owners of both restaurants insisted on treating us. Bob had the owner of the hotel where we staying believing he was the owner of the casino where he worked.”

Pellegrini was a casino executive for many years before retiring. He used that connection to give Woolley and members of his staff an unforgettable night. “I fondly remember the annual Brooks-Irvine Football Banquet,” said Woolley. “At that time the event was held at the old Cherry Hill Inn. Bob had made plans for us to go via a limo from his casino. We had Willie Mosconi, the great pool player, with us. And, of course, our driver was this six-foot, strikingly beautiful blonde. “When we got to the Cherry Hill Inn he had the limo driver take us right up to the front door. Out we jumped after our driver opened the doors. And, as she was helping us on with our suit jackets, up walked several of my fellow Cape-Atlantic League coaches – Tony Surace, Ken Williams and Alex Konick. Needless-to-say, the look on their faces was worth the trip.

“Bob was great.”

Clearly – both on the field and off.

A Look Back At The 2007-08 CAL Basketball Season

Tom Williams NJ Shore Sports — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:06:05 GMT

Here is our winter sports buffet, a list of the best of the just completed season from one point of view.

All Cape-Atlantic Boys: Ryan Brooks, Holy Spirit; Alex Nelson, Oakcrest; Josh Thompson, St. Augustine Prep; Travis Washington, Hammonton; Norman White, St. Joseph.

All Cape-Atlantic Girls: Tara Booker, Absegami; Ashley Durham, Sacred Heart; Sara Mostafa, Absegami; Victoria Wermuth, Lower Cape May; Nancy White, Ocean City.

Players of the Year: Ryan Brooks and Tara Booker.

Early 2009-10 Boys Team: Muji McBride, Atlantic City; Tom McKeefrey, Lower Cape May; Isaiah Morton, St. Augustine; Rashaun Rasheed, Atlantic City; Winston Rolls, Egg Harbor Township.

Early 2009-10 Girls Team: Tiana Cannon, Atlantic City; Alicia Cox, Vineland; Jade Howard, St. Joseph; Tenisha Mobley, Holy Spirit; Joanna Persiano, Atlantic City.

All Transfer Team: Hillary Drinovsky, Holy Spirit (from Barnegat); Tom McKeefrey, Lower Cape May; Brandon Pascucci, St. Augustine (from Wildwood Catholic); Mike Shaughnessy, Mainland (from St. Augustine); Matt Whitworth, Ocean City (from Chestnut Hill PA).

CAL Boys Coach of the Year: Nobody likes ties. But on rare occasions, a tie is the only answer. Because Atlantic City’s Gene Allen brought his young Vikings together after a terrible start and won a third South Jersey championship. And because Hammonton’s Joe Martino brought his school its first CAL basketball championship in 58 years. Because of their respective success let’s make it a tie for this year’s selection.

CAL Girls Coach of the Year: Paul Baruffi took the Ocean City girls as far as they have ever gone, replacing some valuable players who graduated and blending the new players into a second straight CAL champion and the school’s second South Jersey titlist. Special mention to Wildwood’s Dave Troiano who is no longer part of the CAL but whose six South Jersey titles and four state titles are still the league’s records. This year he notched his eighth career South Jersey title.

3 Is The Magic Number: It is sort of rare for a team to play another team three times in one season. But, this year, it happened all the time. In boys basketball, Holy Spirit-St. Augustine, Atlantic City-Vineland and Atlantic City-Mainland were match-ups that happened three times. Among girls teams, Ocean City-Lower Cape May, St. Joseph-Sacred Heart and St. Joseph-Wildwood Catholic all played three times. And, outside the CAL, the Wildwood girls won the South Jersey title by beating Pitman, Gloucester and Salem. In all three cases, it was the third time this year the teams had met.

Best of the Pool: There is a lot of talk about how good the CAL is in basketball. And for good reason. At least one team from the league has won a South Jersey champion for 38 straight years. But what about swimming? St. Augustine won another state title, Egg Harbor Township took a South Jersey championship, both South Jersey coaches of the year (Prep’s Jon Stinson and EHT’s Chris Denn) were from the CAL and 13 of the 28 swimmers selected All-South Jersey were from the Cape-Atlantic League.

Injury of the Year: When Eric Williams went down in the first quarter of Mainland’s game with Shawnee, the Mustangs were winning. They lost that game to drop to 0-2 on the season and were 1-6 when Williams finally returned. Mainland went on to an eight-game win streak, reached the South Jersey Group 4 semifinals and finished 17-10. But with Williams in the lineup they were 16-5.

Shot of the Year: It was January 29, a few days before the New York Giants would put together a big upset win in the Super Bowl. Vineland seemed to be on its way to a win over Atlantic City. But Leavander Jones threw in a 27-foot shot at the buzzer to give ACHS a 64-63 win. If Jones’ shot does not go in, Vineland wins the division championship on the tiebreaker and ties Hammonton for the conference title. But the shot went in and the Vikings won both of those championships.

Sad Farewells: Two of the Cape-Atlantic League’s most dedicated girls basketball coaches will not return next season. Absegami’s Greg Goodwin will leave with a 277-54 career record, including 11 division titles, nine conference championships, five overall CAL titles, five South Jersey championships and two state titles. He took an average program and has built it into the CAL program to which every other team is compared. And Roy Wright, who fittingly ended his Lower Cape May career in the South Jersey championship game, was 133-119. He worked as hard at the job as anyone and he did it 12 months a year. He developed many players into college players and, more than any coach before or since, brought fashion sense to the sidelines. It will not seem the same without them.

The Cape-Atlantic League was great again in the 2007-08 winter season. There are many young players returning, so things figure to be just as good next year.

First CAL Graduate Named To Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

Tom Williams NJ Shore Sports — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:46:56 GMT

Cathy Rush, who won 149 games and three national championships as the coach of the women's program at Immaculata (PA) College, was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame yesterday.

Rush played high school basketball at Oakcrest. She led the Falcons in scoring her first year then the school cancelled the girls basketball program the next year. Rush coached Immaculata into six championship games in the AIAW, which conducted women's national tournaments before the NCAA accepted the sport. Her success as a college coach is being immortalized by a film - "Our Lady of Victory" - scheduled for release this year. The red-hot actress, Carla Gugino, will be portaying her in the film.

Since retiring as Immaculata coach, Rush has operated a sports camp - Future Stars.

In addition to Rush, others being inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame on September 6th are Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, Adrian Dantley, Coach Pat Riley, broadcaster Dick Vitale and team owner Bill Davidson.

Mike Bertino, Joanna Persiano Win Boo Pergament Awards

Tom Williams NJ Shore Sports — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:25:54 GMT

Junior Mike Bertino of Hammonton and sophomore Joanna Persiano of Atlantic City were both surprised on Saturday when it was announced during breaks in the all star games of Cape-Atlantic League seniors that they were winners of the 2007-08 Boo Pergament Awards.

Bertino went from a role player as a sophomore to become a dangerous three-point shooter, the CAL's best free throw shooter and a strong ball-handling guard for Hammonton's conference co-champions.

Persiano was a double figure scorer this year and one of the league's top three-point shooters while helping Atlantic City's young team return to the NJSIAA Tournament.

Pergament, a member of the South Jersey Basketball Hall of Fame, honored both players by attending the doubleheader and making the presentations himself.

Check out photos of the winners and more online.

Josh Thompson, Sara Mostafa Are All Star Saturday MVPs

Tom Williams NJ Shore Sports — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:17:15 GMT

St. Augustine Prep's Josh Thompson scored 25 points and was named MVP in the National Conference's 101-95 overtime win in the Ocean City Home Bank Dixie Howell Classic. And Absegami's Sara Mostafa scored 17 as the American Girls were 62-59 winners in the Just Four Wheels Girls Classic.

It all happened at the end of All Star Saturday at Ocean City High School yesterday, a day when the past, present and future of Cape-Atlantic League basketball is celebrated.

The boys game was the first overtime game in the 17-year series. It was created when Travis Washington of Hammonton buried a three-pointer from the corner as the fourth quarter buzzer sounded, tying the game. But the Pleasantville duo of Klev Exantus and Nate Evans scored the first 10 points of overtime.

The American girls used the strength of Mostafa and EHT's Jamila Garrett to control the inside game. But they needed two free throws by Ocean City's Nancy White in the final 10 seconds to assure the win.

Sean Bannon of Mainland was the boys three-point champion, beating Atlantic City's Khalif Toombs on a tiebreaking shootout. But Sally O'Donnell of Wildwood Catholic, who won the girls title by making 24 of 30 three-pointers, beat Bannon, 8-7, in the Three-Point Showdown.

Earlier in the day, the Mainland Legends defeated Ocean City, 78-69, behind MVP Billy Care.

The Cape-Atlantic area 8th grade boys defeated Camden County, 69-57, with MVP Keyshawn Reynolds of Atlantic City scoring 12.

And the CAL area 8th grade girls used 15 points by MVP Raina Floyd of Northfield to beat the Jersey Shoreshots, 52-39.

T. John Casiello of St. Ann's in North Wildwood, won the 8th grade boys foul shooting contest. And Vanessa Clark of Cape May Court House made 27 of 29 free throws to edge Floyd in an exciting girls foul shooting contest.

Watch for box scores, photos and more of the day's action later this week online at All Star Saturday.

Garrett, Jabier and Rassman Sign On To CAL Girls All Star Teams

Tom Williams NJ Shore Sports — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:35:59 GMT

Egg Harbor Township's Jamila Garrett and Erica Rassman and Kristy Jabier of Holy Spirit filled the final positions today for the Just 4 Wheels Girls Classic on Saturday in Ocean City.

The senior all stars from the Cape-Atlantic League's American Conference will meet the seniors from the National Conference in a doubleheader that wraps up All Star Saturday. The girls game begins at 4:15 and the boys will follow at 6:00.

Check out the rosters for the boys and girls games, Saturday's complete schedule and review previous year's all star results and records by visiting All Star Saturday.

Evans, Hindelang, Orr, Sharp, Thompson Round Out National Boys Hoop Stars

Tom Williams NJ Shore Sports — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:27:51 GMT

The National Conference boys all star team for Saturday's All Star Saturday at Ocean City High School has been finalized.

Nate Evans of Pleasantville, Clark Hindelang of Wildwood Catholic, Levi Orr of Bridgeton, Brandon Sharp of St. Joseph and Jason Thompson of Middle Township have signed on to play in Saturday's Dixie Howell Boys Classic all star game at 6pm. They join Wildwood Catholic's Pat Kelly, St. Augustine's Josh Thompson, Pleasantville's Klev Exantus, St. Joe's Norman White and Darius Melton of Buena.

Check out the rosters for the boys and girls games as they are finalized by visiting All Star Saturday.

Bill Walsh Will Not Return As Holy Spirit Football Coach

Tom Williams NJ Shore Sports — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:15:30 GMT

Bill Walsh, who coached Holy Spirit to a 12-0 record last fall, an NJSIAA championship and the No. 1 ranking in South Jersey, is expected to officially resign as head football coach this week. Walsh is expected to remain on the school staff at least through June. He is expected to spend more time with his family, including a young daughter, and has expressed an interest in returning to private business.

Walsh's teams were 41-13 in his five seasons as head coach, qualifying for the playoffs all five years. In addition to this year's undefeated champions, Holy Spirit shared the National Conference championship in 2004.

Roman is, like Walsh, a former Holy Spirit player. He has been on the HSHS staff the past few years.

There are unconfirmed rumors that a somewhat radical shakeup of the committee that oversees Holy Spirit High School may have also played a role in Walsh's decision.

The impending football change at Holy Spirit is the latest in a number of major positions that are to be filled in the Cape-Atlantic League. Absegami, still operating without a full-time athletics director, must replace football coach Doug Colman and girls basketball coach Greg Goodwin, both highly successful. And Lower Cape May will need to find a new girls basketball coach to replace the dapper Roy Wright, who took the Tigers to the South Jersey final this year.

Hammonton Duo Added To All Star Team

Tom Williams NJ Shore Sports — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:24:45 GMT

Travis Washington and Anthony Barone, who helped Hammonton win its first Cape-Atlantic League basketball championship in 58 years, have signed on to play for the American Conference all star team against the best of the National Conference on April 5th in Ocean City.

Washington and Barone will be playing together with some of the players they battled in this year's tight American Conference race - including Khalif Toombs and Anthony Woodard of Atlantic City and Eric Williams and Sean Batton of Mainland.

The addition of the two Hammonton players completes the 10-player American boys roster. The National boys team and both girls teams still have incomplete rosters.

Check out the rosters for the boys and girls games as they are finalized by visiting All Star Saturday.

OCHS Baseball Team Heads To Florida

Tom Williams NJ Shore Sports — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:32:08 GMT

Ocean City High School's baseball team left this afternoon for a week of baseball in the Sunshine State.

The Raiders, who have special light-weight practice uniforms for the trip, are at Cocoa Expo near Orlando in Florida this week, playing five scrimmages against teams from three different states. They are also practicing every day and using the batting tunnel for a third daily workout. And they aren’t worrying about the weather.

The facility near Cocoa Beach in Florida has been used as a spring training base by both the Houston Astros and the Florida Marlins. There are 11 fields, including a stadium, and teams get the chance to play teams from all over the country. One of the teams Ocean City plays this week – Timberline ID – has won three state championships in the last eight years. The Richard Stockton College team played at Cocoa Expo last week and Sacred Heart’s team will be down there with the Raiders this week.

While the varsity team is playing five games the junior varsity will also play five times. In addition to all the baseball, the Ocean City team will have time to hit the beach. The Raiders will also go to Space Coast Park in Viera, spring training home of the Washington Nationals, to see the Nats face the Baltimore Orioles in a Grapefruit League game.

When the Raiders return on Sunday, they will focus on the season opener with Oakcrest at home on Tuesday afternoon.

Look for more about the OCHS baseball team's trip to Florida in this week’s Ocean City and Upper Township editions of The Gazette.

Vineland's Matt Haddix Added To All Star Roster

Tom Williams NJ Shore Sports — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 21:07:50 GMT

Vineland's Matt Haddix, who helped the Clan battle Atlantic City to the wire in the American Conference race this year, has been officially added to the American Conference roster for All Star Saturday on April 5 at Ocean City High School.

Haddix joins an American Conference team that already includes his teammate, Jarell Lecator, along with scoring champion Alex Nelson of Oakcrest and both Khalif Toombs and Anthony Woodard from ACHS. There are two more positions on the American boys that should be filled within a few days.

Only 5 players have filed official papers to play for the National Conference, including Wildwood Catholic sharpshooter Pat Kelly, Norman White of St. Joseph and Josh Thompson of St. Augustine. But one player from Wildwood Catholic, one from St. Joe, one from Bridgeton, one from Middle Township and one from Pleasantville should be added within days.

Check out both rosters for the boys and girls games by visiting All Star Saturday.

St. Anthony, Shabazz Capture NJSIAA Titles

Tom Williams NJ Shore Sports — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 20:56:36 GMT

Winning the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions last night at The Izod Center meant different things to the two champions.

For the boys from St. Anthony of Jersey City, who defeated Science Park of Newark, 69-36. it meant completing a 32-0 season and holding on to the No. 1 ranking in USA Today's national top 25.

For the girls from Malcolm X. Shabazz in Newark, winners over Trenton Central by a 48-37 score, it meant overcoming some of the frustration from not being allowed to compete in 2006-07.

This was the 20th year of the TOC and St. Anthony has now won exactly half of them, though this was its first win since 2004. Rutgers recruit Mike Rosario led the Friars with 21 points on 7-for-13 shooting. Marquette recruit Tyshawn Taylor had a perfect shooting night, making all 7 of his shots and finishing with 17 points. St. Anthony hit 58 percent from the floor, 80 percent from the line and had a 39-21 rebounding advantage.

Shabazz was ranked No. 1 in the state last year when it discovered it accidentally scheduled too many games and would not be able to compete in the NJSIAA Tournament. With most of its team back, the Bulldogs defeated Ocean City to win the Group 3 State Title and then marched to their 4th TOC championship in the last 6 years. Jynae Judson led Shabazz (29-2) with 19 points and 8 rebounds. Dominique Butler had 11 points & 11 boards for Trenton which also got 10 rebounds & 4 blocks from Torrie Childs. It marked the second straight year that Trenton, the TOC champion in 2002, had finished second in the tournament.

Shabazz, Trenton Central Reach NJSIAA TOC Final

Tom Williams NJ Shore Sports — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:03:53 GMT

Last season Trenton Central jumped out in front of University at the start of the NJSIAA Girls Tournament of Champions final. University then rallied to win the game and the TOC title.

Tonight in the TOC semifinal at The Ritacco Center in Toms River, University took a 25-10 lead in the first period but Trenton rallied to lead at halftime and went on to win, 73-69.

In tonight's other semifinal, Malcolm X. Shabazz easily defeated St. John Vianney, 75-35, to move into the TOC final for the fourth time. Trenton Central and Shabazz will play Monday night at 6:30pm in The Izod Center in The Meadowlands.

Trenton trailed by 6 with 4:39 left but rallied, making 7 free throws in the final 2:45. Torrie Childs had 20 points, 19 rebounds and 5 blocked shots. Tracey Parsons threw in 23 for Trenton and Alexis Sweet had 11 points, 8 rebounds & 6 assists. Ashley Hines came off the bench to score 13, make 3 steals and contribute 3 assists. Trenton is playing without veteran guard Leola Spotwood, who injured her knee in the state semifinal against Absegami and is out for the season. Sophomore Laurin Mincy had 24 points, 9 rebounds & 5 blocks for University.

Shabazz took a 32-18 halftime lead on Vianney and then ended any chances of a comeback by outscoring the Non-Public champions, 26-5, in the fourth quarter. Kajunia Walker scored 17, Jynae Judson 16 and Chanez Robinson 14 for Shabazz, which had a 41-22 advantage off the boards and shot 53 percent from the floor.

Tomorrow (Friday) night in the Boys TOC semifinals, Rancocas Valley will play Newark-Park Science, a team many Atlantic City area fans may have seen beat Trenton Central by 5 in this year's Battle By The Bay. That game will be at 6pm at the Rutgers Athletic Center. Immaculata will face undefeated St. Anthony of Jersey City, ranked No. 1 in the nation, tomorrow (8pm) at Rutgers. Those winners will play for the boys TOC title on Monday.

By the way, though their coverage of the NJSIAA Tournament has been rather lacking, Cn8 ("the Comcast Network") will broadcast the TOC championship doubleheader from The Izod Center in the Meadowlands on Monday night starting at 6:30.