The Press Preseason Elite 11 will be published in our special preview section on Sept. 11.
But here is an early look at how we’re ranking them.
Feel free to respond with some “Intelligent” comments.
There’s plenty of time for changes.
Remember The Press ranks all public schools that compete for South Jersey titles. It also ranks non-public schools in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem and southern Ocean counties.
Also don’t forget to check out our daily podcasts previewing each team we cover.
Just go to
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/sports
and click on the banner at the top of the page.
Now for the Elite 11
1. Mainland Regional: South Jersey Group IV finalist.
2. Shawnee: Chris LaPierre and defending South Jersey Group III champion.
3. Eastern: Edged by Mainland in the South Jersey Group IV semifinals.
4. Toms River North: Defending South Jersey Group IV champion.
5. Southern Regional: Glenn Carson. South Jersey Group IV semifinalist.
6. Atlantic City: Leavander Jones. South Jersey Group IV quarterfinalist.
7. Williamstown: South Jersey Group IV quarterfinalist
8. Paulsboro: South Jersey Group I favorite
9. Camden Catholic: 8-2 last season with the only losses to a state champion (Holy Cross) and a state finalist (St. Peter’s Prep).
10. West Deptford: Defending South Jersey Group II champion
11. St. Joseph: Those talented sophomores are now experienced, talented juniors.
Others to Consider: Cherokee; Lacey Township; Toms River East; Washington Township.
I’m sure there are others (Holy Spirit, Egg Harbor Township, St. Augustine, Buena) that can also be considered.
And I’m sure I missed a few.
My first impression is that the Elite 11 is top heavy with Group IV teams but that looks like a really strong section this year.
It’s time.
High School football is back.
Teams began practices this week and if on cue the weather turned a cooler to give the players a break during those grueling early practice sessions.
Last season three Press-area teams – Holy Spirit, Lacey Township and Mainland Regional – played for championships. Holy Spirit was the only winner.
What will this season bring?
The Press preview section comes out Sept. 11. But we’ve already gotten a head start on previewing the season.
This week we started rolling out daily podcasts – one each on each team we cover.
Here’s the link:
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/
Just click on the banner at the top of the page.
In the weeks leading up to this season, we’ll periodically take a look at specific question to preview the year.
Our first topic: Which Press-area team or teams will have the biggest turn around this season?
I like Egg Harbor Township with quarterback Tim Little in the CAL American Conference and Buena Regional with all-around standout Dontae McKinnon in the CAL National Conference.
Next up we’ll be examining candidates for the preseason Elite 11 to be published Sept. 11. Who do you like?
You can check out the first of a series of podcasts on each of the high school football teams here. We started with St. Augustine and these will launch everyday until the high school football preview comes out on Sept. 11.
A few extras on Tuesday’s dramatic Phillies vs. Mets game.
But first the link to my story that appeared in Wednesday’s paper and online:
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/126/story/211801.html
With the 8-6 win, Philadelphia is 4-7 against the Mets this season.
Two of those wins have come in games started by New York Mets ace Johan Santana.
On the way home from Shea, I listened to New York sports radio station WFAN.
Callers were burning up the airwaves with one question. Why didn’t Santana pitch the ninth inning?
It’s a legitimate question.
He came out after eight innings and 105 pitches. The fans thought he should have at least started the ninth, considering closer Billy Wagner was out with shoulder spasms.
Santana started against the Phillies on July 4 at Citizens Bank Park. Philadelphia trailed 2-0 after five innings in that contest, but rallied for a 3-2 win. Shane Victorino knocked in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth with a single.
Santana left that game with the score tied after eight innings having thrown 95 pitches.
In what figures to be close a National League East race the rest of the way, New York might regret not having Santana do some extra work in these two games when the season is over.
What is going through the mind of Mets third base coach Luis Aguayo?
Twice he waived home Endy Chavez with no outs – once in the third inning and once in the seventh.
Both times Philadelphia outfielders easily threw Chavez out at the plate.
Aguayo’s decisions are even more confounding, considering Chavez batted second in the Mets order. If he had stayed at third, he would have been on base for Met power hitters Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado.
It’s bad baseball to make the first out of the inning at home plate.
The Phillies had a similar situation during their ninth-inning rally.
Philadelphia third-base coach Steve Smith held Carlos Ruiz at third with no outs on So Taguchi’s double to right field. It would have been tempting to send Ruiz because he was the go-ahead run. But Smith was patient and the winning rally continued.
Jimmy Rollins didn’t mince words when discussing Jose Reyes failed attempt to force Victorino at second in the ninth.
The play came with the bases loaded and nobody put. Reyes fielded a chopper from Ruiz barehanded. He seemed like he couldn’t decide whether to flip the ball to second baseman Damon Easley for the force or take it himself.
Reyes decided to take it himself and stepped awkwardly for the bag. Victorino beat the play.
His mistake was not giving the ball up,” Rollins said “He already made the highlights by making the barehanded grab.”
Overshadowed in the comeback was Philadelphia’s defensive play of the game.
Second baseman Chase Utley made a diving catch with two outs and the bases loaded off the bat of pinch hitter Fernando Tatis.
If that ball gets through at least two runs score, and the Mets break the game open.
And finally, the Phillies need to win one of the next two games in this series to make Tuesday’s victory stick.
Remember after they beat the Mets and Santana on July 4, the Phillies dropped the next three to the Mets.
–30–
The title of this entry refers Jamie Moyer’s nickname when he pitched with the Seattle Mariners.
It still applies.
At 45-years-old, Moyer is baseball’s oldest player and a big reason why the Philadelphia Phillies still lead the National League East.
Moyer allowed one run in seven innings as the Phillies beat Cardinals 4-1 Thursday afternoon (July 10th).
Although it was his first victory since June 12, the left-hander is 8-6 with a 3.95 earned run average.
“He totally amazes me,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.
Moyer is used to questions about his age. He understands the media and fans are always going to speak about
“Whether I get tired of hearing it or not, it’s going to happen,” he said. “The thing that I can look at is that I’m still (pitching). And not to throw it in anybody’s face or be stupid about it, but I’m proud of that.”
Moyer was drafted in the sixth round of the June, 1984 Major League draft. Phillies ace Cole Hamels was born seven months earlier. Starter Kyle Kendrick was born two months later.
Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard said Moyer when he’s not pitching is always talking and teaching the game to the team’s other pitchers.
Howard said he wouldn’t be surprised if when Moyer retired he became a pitching coach.
Thursday was a typical Moyer game.
He struck out four, walked two and scattered seven hits. Double plays in the second, third and fifth innings helped end potential St. Louis rallies.
Moyer has no allusions about his ability. He knows he’s not going to blow any hitters away with his 82 mph fastball.
Instead, he must do what he did Thursday.
“It’s a matter of keeping the ball down, changing speed and throwing it up there,” he said.
Moyer now has 238 career victories. Only 14 left-handers in baseball history have won more games.
Now that summer is here, I’ll be covering some Phillies games.
Occasionally, I’ll post some added thoughts on the game here.
The Mets held on to beat Philadelphia 10-9 Monday. Here’s a feature I worked on during the game. It got pulled from the paper because we changed my story to focus more on the game after Philadelphia’s near comeback.
But I post it here because I think it’s still key to the Mets taking three-of-four from Philadelphia.
By Michael McGarry
PHILADELPHIA – Fans of the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies like to debate who’s the better shortstop – Jose Reyes or Jimmy Rollins.
Last year the answer was clearly Jimmy Rollins, who won the National League Most Valuable Player award.
This year - and more importantly in the four game series that ended Monday night – it’s Reyes.
He sparked a Mets victory Monday night.
New York pounded Philadelphia Phillies starter Adam Eaton for 10 hits in less than three innings and hung on to beat Philadelphia 10-9 before 44,655 fans at Citizens Bank Park.
New York (45-44) won three of the four games and tightened the National League East race. The Mets, who trailed the division-leading Phillies by 7.5 games on June 13, are now 2.5 games back.
One of the biggest differences in the four games was the play of Reyes and Rollins.
The Phillies are 21-6 when Rollins scores. The only run he scored against the Mets came in Monday’s seventh inning and cut the Mets lead to 10-3.
Rollins came to the plate in the eighth inning. The Phillies had momentum. Geoff Jenkins had just hit a two-run home run to cut the Mets lead to three runs.
Rollins could not extend the rally. He struck out looking on a 3-2 pitch.
Reyes was a big reason the Mets jumped to an early lead. He was in the on-deck circle even before Eaton had finished warming up in the bullpen. It was if Reyes couldn’t wait for the game to get started and no wonder.
He led off and ripped a single to right. He stole second, moved to third on Endy Chavez’s bunt single and scored on David Wright’s groundout.
The Mets were up 1-0 and never trailed again.
Reyes walked and scored in the second as the Mets added three more runs. He singled in the middle of another three-run rally in the third inning.
Reyes finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored Monday. He was 7-for-19 in the series with four runs scored and four stolen bases.
Meanwhile, Rollins could not provide a similar spark for the Phillies, although it would have taken a lot to overcome Eaton’s terrible performance (10 hits, one walk, eight runs allowed in 2.2 innings).
The Phillies (48-42) were facing an aging Pedro Martinez, who entered with a 7.39 earned run average.
Philadelphia came to bat in the bottom of the first down 2-0. If the Phillies could score some runs, the game might have turned into a slugfest earlier than it did. That would have been to Philadelphia’s advantage.
Rollins led off with a ground out. The Phillies did not score until the fourth inning He finished 2-for-5 but the hits came in the fifth and seventh innings when the Mets were ahead 8-1 and 10-2, respectively.
And then there was the eighth inning strikeout.
Rollins was 4-for-18 with three stolen bases in the series.
Rollins sprained his ankle sliding into second base against the Mets and was out from April 20 to May 9. Maybe it was the injury, but he just hasn’t found his groove.
The Phillies have six games left on the current home stand that ends Sunday. The wild-card leading St. Louis Cardinals and the Arizona Diamondbacks, who began Monday on top of the NL West, come to town before the All-Star break.
Without Rollins on base creating scoring opportunities, Philadelphia relies too often on the home run. The Phillies hit four home runs and saw six of their nine runs score on those blasts Monday.
There’s plenty of baseball left, but the lesson of these four games against the Mets is that the Phillies need the Rollins of last season, the Rollins who got his hits when it mattered most.
This story ran in The Press on Tuesday.
Tyler Stockton is a player to keep an eye on in the future
By Michael McGarry
Tyler Stockton is the best local high school football player area fans have never seen.
The 6-foot-1, 290-pound defensive tackle/nose guard is nearly impossible to block, according to his coach.
The Linwood resident has already committed to attend Notre Dame. Colleges from ranging from USC to Penn State have offered him scholarships.
Stockton has been selected to play in the U.S. Army All American Bowl, a national high school football all star game in San Antonio, Texas. NBC will televise it on Jan. 3, 2009.
But to local high school football fans Stockton exists only as a profile on various Internet recruiting sites, which rate him as one of the nation’s top college football prospects.
That’s because the junior plays for The Hun School, a prep school in Princeton.
His family is doing its best to get the word out.
“I know my mom and dad are telling everybody they know,” Stockton said with a laugh.
Stockton’s play also stands for itself. He is a disruptive force on defense.
He had 73 tackles, 26 for losses last season. Stockton also had 11 sacks, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
He also plays guard for Hun and is the team’s long snapper.
“He hardly ever gets off the field for us,” Hun coach Dave Dudek said. “He’s been double-teamed. He’s been triple teamed. I’ve never seen him get blocked. He always creates havoc.”
Stockton runs the 40-yard dash in 4.9 seconds – an extremely fast time for someone of his size. His quickness may be his best trait.
“I just try to get off the ball as fast possible,” he said. “If I can beat my man that’s the fastest way I’m going to win my battle.”
The Stocktons are a football family. Numerous cousins and uncles have played the game.
“It’s in my blood,” Stockton said.
He likes the physical and mental aspects of the game.
“I like everything about football,” Stockton said. “I like getting to hit people. I like the team bonding experience. We have really good chemistry at The Hun School.”
Despite attending The Hun School, Stockton has deep local connections. He and his family have lived in Linwood since he was in kindergarten. His father Lyndon coached him when he played for the Linwood Panthers in the Atlantic County Junior Football League. His mother Naomi is from Atlantic City.
Stockton is following the path taken by Myron Rolle of Galloway Township. Rolle starred for the Hun School and graduated January, 2006. He now starts at defensive back for Florida State.
Stockton and Rolle are among the handful of local high school athletes who have left the area to make a name for themselves at New Jersey prep boarding schools. Bobby Smith of Dennis Township just finished his senior season at The Lawrenceville School and earned a partial lacrosse scholarship to Notre Dame.
Stockton began to look at the state’s prep schools when he was in the seventh grade. His family felt it was the best way to prepare him for college life. . The Hun School has produced 63 Division I players the last eight seasons, according to Dudek.
“I’m boarding there,” Stockton said. “It’s a college-type atmosphere. I’m going to be ahead of someone who went to public school, who doesn’t know how to budget their time.”
It’s a big step for a 14-year-old to move away from home for part of the year, but Stockton never looked back.
“I’m every happy with the path I’ve taken,” Stockton said. ““I never had homesickness. I’m been going away to football camps since I was young.”
Stockton committed to Notre Dame during a visit to the school earlier this spring. He has a relationship with Notre Dame coach Charlie Weiss and several Fighting Irish assistants from attending the school’s summer football camp the past few years.
“I was able to meet the coaches,” Stockton said, “and spend time with them. I got a chance to really see what Notre Dame is about.”
Even though Stockton has committed to Notre Dame, that hasn’t stopped other colleges, such as USC, from offering him scholarships.
“The recruiting hasn’t stopped,” Stockton said, “but I’m a 100 percent committed to Notre Dame.”
Stockton is now home from the summer. He works out at Parisi Speed School at Oceanside Wellness & Sport in Egg Harbor Township. He needs to find a new workout partner, however. Stockton’s previous one, St. Augustine Prep football player Jack Crawford, is on his way to Penn State.
Stockton also will attend Notre Dame football camp from Jun 29-July 2.
A lot has already happened to Stockton, and there is more to come. He plans to graduate The Hun School in January, so he can attend Notre Dame’s 2009 spring practice and get a jump on his freshman year. Speed School at Oceanside Wellness & Sport.
“My coaches told me something like this could happen,” Stockton said. “But it’s happening sooner than we expected. We thought (the recruiting) would happen during my senior year. It’s a little overwhelming. But you have to enjoy it. It only happens once in your life.”
Q&A with Tyler Stockton
I never leave home without…
My cell phone.
What’s your favorite food?
I’m up for any kind of food.
What’s the last book you read?
The Great Gatsby
The next president of the United States should be …
Barack Obama
What song are you listening to most on your iPod?
Shawty Lo’s Dey Know (Remix) with Lil Wayne.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Hopefully I’m playing in the NFL, but if not as a businessman on Wall Street.
The end of the Meet of Champions is always hectic.
Especially when you’re writing two stories, doing agate and blogging!
But the drive home from South Plainfield gives one time to think.
Was this the best performance ever by local athletes at this meet?
A strong case can be made for a yes.
The best years ever for locals at the MOC before Thursday were 1998 and 1999. Six athletes won seven events both of those years.
On Thursday, five athletes won five events.
Individual winners were:
Demetrius Rooks, Absegami, 400-meter hurdles
Brett Johnson, Ocean City, 1,600-meter run
Stevenson Cajuste, Egg Harbor Township, long jump
Jill Smith, Southern Regional, 800-meter run
Lauren Calorel, Lacey Township, high jump
The Southern Regional girls and Absegami boys 1,600-meter relay teams also won.
That gives us seven victories - same as in 1998 and 1999.
Now we get to the biggest reason why Thursday night was the best ever MOC by locals.
The performances were history-making.
1. Jill Smith’s time of 2:05.26 is second fastest in New Jersey ever and the second fastest in the country this year, according to dyestat.com, a website that follows national high school track and field. It is also a junior class record for New Jersey, breaking the mark of 2:07.10 set by Janine Davis of Queen of Peace in 2005.
2. Brett Johnson’s time of 4:09.03 broke the meet record held by former Ocean City standout John Richardson. Johnson’s time is a Press-area record.
3. The Southern girls won the 1,600-relay in 3:49.57. That is a Press-area record. The Rams are the first local team to go under 3:50 - the magic mark for girls teams.
4. The Absegami boys won the 1,600 relay in 3:15.77. That is the third fastest time in Press-area history. Only Vineland (3:14.95 in 2002 and 3:15.41 in 2003) has gone faster.
5. Throw in Rooks and Cajuste getting the first MOC wins in their school’s history.
6. Mix that with Calorel’s surprise victory - no winner Thursday was more surprised.
7. All that doesn’t even count the other stuff that would normally make headlines: Jen Holly of Barnaget clearing 12-6 in the pole vault and getting second; Nijgia Snapp of Oakcrest taking second in the 400 dash and fourth in the 200; Geoff Navarro of Absegami second in the 100 dash; and Tejay Johnson of EHT false starting in the 100 final and getting disqualified but bouncing back to take second in the 200 dash.
You look at the number of victories and the quality of the performances, and I think without a doubt it’s the best MOC in local history.
We’re here at South Plainfield for the Meet of Champions.
Weather is overcast, but not too hot. At least for now.
The field events are underway; Running starts in about 25 minutes.
4:56 p.m. update
Our first winner.
Demetrius Rooks of Absegami wins the 400 hurdles in 53.31 seconds.
Brett Johnson of Ocean City on the track next in the 1,600 run.
5:08 update
The first half of the “John Richardson” double is complete. Richardson, a 2003 Ocean City graduate, is the only runner in the 40-year history of the MOC to win the 800 and 1,600 runs.
Johnson is trying to duplicate that feat today.
Brett Johnson ran the final 400 in 56.5 to win the 1,600 run.
Johnson’s time of 4:09.03 breaks the meet record of John Richardson (4:09.20 in 2003).
6:39 p.m. update
Jill Smith of Southern skips the 1,600 run to concentrate on the relay and the 800 run.
Lauren Calorel of Lacey Township comes from nowhere to near to win the high jump with height of 5-6.
8:02 pm
Jill Smith wins the 800 run in 2:05.26 - second fastest in state history.
Stevenson Cajuste wins the long jump with a personal-best leap of 23-3.25
The night concludes with the Absegami boys and Southern Regional girls 1,600 relay teams taking first place.
It’s the first time Press-area teams have ever won the MOC relay.
The Boston Red Sox are headed to Philadelphia June 16-18.
The Press of Atlantic City wants to know if Red Sox Nation exists in southern New Jersey.
We’re looking for Boston fans in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and southern Ocean counties to interview for a story.
Email me at
mmcgarry@pressofac.com
and let me know if you’re pumped up about Boston’s visit to Philly.
Press-area track and field athletes have a tradition of success at the Meet of Champions (The Press-area consists of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and southern Ocean counties).
The boys MOC began in 1969, and the girls in 1974.
Local athletes have won at least one MOC title since 1985. Danielle Tauro of Southern Regional single-handedly saved this streak with the second of her four consecutive 1,600-meter run victories in 2005.
The Cape-Atlantic League has produced at least one MOC winner 21 of the last 23 years. This stretch began in 1986 with a win by Leon Brown of Ocean City in the 200 dash.
But the CAL is in a bit of a slump. The two years it came up empty were 2005 and 2007. No CAL boy has won a MOC title since Jim Wyner won the 1,600 run in 2004.
That should change this year as the CAL sends its strongest contingent of boys in years to the MOC. Demetrius Rooks and Geoff Navarro, both of Absegami, are the top seeds in the 400 hurdles and the 100 dash, respectively.
Brett Johnson of Ocean City is a top contender in the 800 and 1,600 runs.
With Jill Smith of Southern, Jen Holly of Barnegat and Nijgia Snapp of Oakcrest it could be a banner year for locals.
The best years ever for locals at the MOC were 1998 and 1999. Six athletes won seven events both of those years.
Here is a list of Press-area winners:
Girls
1988: Charity Smead, Southern Regional, javelin.
1991: Krista Ferrara, Vineland, 800 run.
1993: Kim Stoll, Holy Spirit, high jump.
1994: Megan Hartman, Ocean City, 1,600 run; Helen Wilks, Bridgeton, 100 hurdles.
1997: Amy Beykirch, Pinelands Regional, 3,200 run
1998: Lauren McHale, Ocean City, 800 run; Sherese Price, Pleasantville, 100 hurdles; Melinda Boykin, Bridgeton, discus.
1999: Nadia Davy, Bridgeton, 400 dash; Katrina Sye, Buena Regional, 800 run; Frances Bundy, Pleasantville, long jump.
2000: Nacole Moore, Bridgeton, shot put.
2001: Shameka Marshall, Oakcrest, long jump and triple jump; Cheslea Salisbury, Buena Regional, javelin.
2002: Olivia Kalinowska, Pinelands Regional, pole vault.
2004: Danielle Tauro, Southern Regional, 1,600 run; Brittany Sedberry, Ocean City, 3,200 run; Sylvia Galarza, Millville, shot put.
2005: Danielle Tauro, Southern Regional, 1,600 run.
2006: Danielle Tauro, Southern Regional, 800 and 1,600 runs; Nia Ali, Pleasantville, 100 hurdles; Kim Warren, Atlantic City, discus;
2007: Danielle Tauro, Southern Regional, 1,600 run; Jill Smith, Southern Regional, 800 run; Jen Holly, Barnegat Township, pole vault;
Boys
1969: Levin Handy, Vineland, 440-yard dash
1971: Dave Hickman, Southern Regional, javelin.
1975: Bill Hartley, Southern Regional, pole vault
1985: Victor Sherman, Southern Regional, co-high jump winner.
1986: Leon Brown, Ocean City, 200 dash
1987: Dave Dixon, Mainland Regional, discus
1988: Don Brooks, Pleasantville, 100 dash; Tim O’Rourke, Lacey Township, 200 dash;
1989: Jason Winrow, Cumberland Regional, discus.
1990: Mark Sivieri, St. Augustine Prep, 1,600 run
1991: Dwayne Robinson, Bridgeton, high jump;
1992: Curt McIntire, Bridgeton, 200 and 400 dashes; Dwayne Robinson, Bridgeton, high jump
1993: Steve Harper, Atlantic City, 200 dash;
1994: Royce Reed, Bridgeton, 400 dash; Desmond Powell, Oakcrest, 110 hurdles; Ray Wilks, Bridgeton, shot put
1995: Royce Reed, Bridgeton, 400 hurdles and javelin; Ray Wilks, Bridgeton, shot put
1996: Robert Hargrove, Vineland, 100 and 200 dashes; Nate Harley, Pleasantville, 110 hurdles
1997: John Stone, Mainland Regional, 100 and 200 dashes;
1998: Tim Athill, Pleasantville, 100 dash; Joe Lewis, Pleasantville, 800 run; Robert Jordan, Millville, high jump and long jump.
1999: Nick Brown, Bridgeton, 200 dash and long jump; Devon Matthews, Pleasantville, 400 hurdles; Robert Jordan, Millville, high jump.
2000: Paul Klemic, Mainland, high jump.
2001: Steve Cirino, Buena Regional, long jump.
2002: Robert Edwards, Bridgeton, 800 run.
2003: John Richardson, Ocean City, 800 and 1,600 runs.
2004: Jim Wyner, Mainland Regional, 1,600 run
2006: Jamil Benjamin, Cumberland Regional, 100 dash.
Jill Smith won the Group IV 1,600. The moment the second-place runner Colts Neck’s Allison Linnel made a move, Smith was gone. It almost seems unfair with how good she is.. She won the race in 4:59.48. Smith needed to pace herself as she plans on running the 3,200, 800 and 1,600 relay tomorrow.
Absegami’s Geoff Navarro won the 100 dash in 10.57. It was the senior’s first state title. The Absegami boys are doing well and should be in contention for the team title at the end of the day.
Absegami’s Demetrius Rooks won the Group IV 400-meter hurdles in 54.04. It didn’t look good for Rooks at first, he was behind three runners and Trenton Central’s Devon Hill had a great run in heat 2. However, over the last 100, Rooks was flying. He passed two guys and won the title.
Kenny Davis, of Pleasantville, won the Group II 400 hurdles in55.82. It was a good start for the Greyhounds, who can contend for the group team title. Pleasantville should get a couple of runners place in the 100 dash. They looked fast in the trials, but so did Bridgeton’s Charles Allen who is looking for a good showing following last week’s sectional championships.
Boys’ double winner: Ocean City’s Brett Johnson. He made it look easy with his wins in the 800 and 3,200. He is probably going to run the 800 and 1,600 next week. It’s been a year since he ran the 3,200, but he just wanted to give himself options. He missed the school record in the 3,200 by two seconds. He came in at 9:22.98.Pleasantville’s Kenny Davis won the 110 hurdles in 14.62.
Bridgeton’s Charles Allen just beat out Davis in the 200 dash. Allen came in at 21.92, Davis ran a 22.15.
Middle Township’s Kevin Hebron, a sophomore, won the Group II discus with a personal best 160 feet, 8 inches.
On the girls’ side, Pleasantville’s Sylvia Mosley and Dominique Best were both winners. Mosley won the 200 dash in 25.26 and Best won the 200 hurdles in 15.50. The best friends have had a difficult time coming away with wins, consistently coming in second or third in big events. Now, they both have a victory.
Lower Cape May Regional’s Gabi Whalen took down the shot put in 35-06. She was surprised because last year’s winner threw a 40. Just last week, Whalen was only touching 31, but she changed her technique taking a bigger jump back and a bigger step. It worked good enough for a Group III title.
Jill Smith delivered a jaw-dropping performance in the South Jersey Group IV 800-meter run.
The Southern Regional junior pulled away on the final lap to beat a strong field in 2 minutes, 7.26 seconds. Miya Johnson of Lenape ran 2:12.40 to finish second.
Smith’s time is a meet record, topping Katrina Sye’s 2:09.2 mark. It is also a Press-area record, which she held at 2:08.8.
Smith led the pack through the first 400 in 62 seconds. She came back in 65 and change.
Here at EHT for day two of the South Jersey Group I and IV track and field championships.
Again good temperatures but breezy conditions.
The hurdle trials have begun. Check back for updates as the day progresses.
Vineland’s Jose Ramos won the Group IV javelin with a throw of 182 feet, 7 inches. Stevenson Cajuste (EHT) won Group IV triple jump (43-8 1/4). Southern Regional’s Anthony Stoffolino took discus with 165-6.
Geoff Navarro of Absegami won the Group IV 200-meter dash in 21.97 seconds.
Egg Harbor TownshipSaturday Results
BOYS
GROUP IV
TEAM SCORING: 1. Absegami 70; 2. Egg Harbor Township 69; 3. Washington Township 64; 4. Winslow Township 43; 5. Oakcrest 42;6. Cherokee 38; 7. Toms River North 27.5; 8. Toms River East 27; 9. Southern Regional 26; 10. Millville 19; 11. Williamstown 14; 11. Lacey Township 14; 13. Vineland 13; 14. Lenape 8; 14. Pennsauken 8; 16. Eastern 6.5; 17. Cherry Hill East 5; 18. Toms River South 2.
800-METER RUN: 1. Xavier Fraction (Washington Township) 1:55.76; 2. Ford Palmer (Absegami) 1:55.88; 3. Aaron Johnson (Oakcrest) 1:57.31; 4. Steve Morrone (Washington Township) 1:58.19; 5. Elijah Jones (Millville) 1:58.99; 6. Tom Pierson (Lacey Township) 1:59.02.
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110-METER HURDLES: 1. Keith Robinson (Winslow Township) 14.41; 2. Stevenson Cajuste (Egg Harbor Township) 14.46; 3. Chris Rutherford (Toms River East) 14.7; 4. Harold Lathan (Egg Harbor Township) 14.74; 5. Cyrus Manahan (Egg Harbor Township) 14.81; 6. Chantz Powell (Cherry Hill East) 14.94.
3,200-METER RUN: 1. Alex Yersak (Cherokee) 9:37.16; 2. Chris Kelly (Washington Township) 9:38.16; 4. Jeff Ascough (Toms River North) 9:42.55; 5. Alex Clemson (Washington Township) 9:44.98; 6. Roger Hopper (Lacey Township) 9:47.9.
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200-METER DASH: 1. Geoff Navarro (Absegami) 21.97; 2. Tejay Johnson (Egg Harbor Township) 22.01; 3. Darin Washington (Winslow Township) 22.15; 4. Barry Cephas (Winslow Township) 22.22; 5. Jamal Boozer (Vineland) 22.25; 6. Kevin Merrigan (Cherokee) 22.56.
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JAVELIN: 1. Jose Ramos (Vineland) 182-7; 2. Ron Stephensen (Lacey Township) 168-2; 3. Kevin Miller (Oakcrest) 166-4; 4. Adam Keller (Eastern) 165-11; 5. Paul Lonergan (Absegami) 165-5; 6. Lorenzo Muniz (Washington Township) 163-9.
DISCUS: 1. Anthony Stroffolino (Southern Regional) 165-6; 2. Kwabena Keene (Washington Township) 156-7; 3. Marvin Logan (Millville) 152-0; 4. Ron Stephensen (Lacey Township) 145-8; 5. Ray Stinsman (Lenape) 144-4; 6. Frank Visconti (Eastern) 143-5.
POLE VAULT: 1.Rick Villanova (Toms River North) 14-6; 2. Chris Wyckoff (Toms River East) 14-6; 3. Josh Parr (Millville) 13-0; 4. Greg Kelley (Toms River North) 12-6; 5. Kyle D’Angelo (Eastern) 12-6; 5. Jordan Subai (Toms River North) 12-6.
GROUP I
TEAM SCORING: 1. Penns Grove 104; 2. Pennsville 51; 2. Paulsboro 51; 4. Palmyra 47; 5. Schalick 42 1/3; 6. Burlington City 41; 7. New Egypt 32; 8. Clayton 27; 9. Pitman 23 1/3; 10. Riverside 22; 11. Maple Shade 18; 12.Lindenwold 13; 13. Wildwood 12 1/3; 14. Woodbury 5; 15. Gloucester City 4; 16. Point Pleasant Beach 2; 17. Salem 1.
800-METER RUN: 1. Sean Vasquez (New Egypt) 2:00.35; 2. Anthony Mowers (Pennsville) 2:02.63; 3. Brian Abate (Maple Shade) 2:03.13; 4. Willie Anderson (Paulsboro) 2:04.68; 5. Robert Konopka (Penns Grove) 2:04.9; 6. Maurice Evans (Salem) 2:05.16.
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110-METER HURDLES: 1. Chris Barnes (Burlington City) 15.2; 2. Stephon Bell (Penns Grove) 15.36; 3. Shawill Green (Penns Grove) 15.7; 4. Darren Carter (Paulsboro) 16.09; 5. Mike Caruso (Maple Shade) 16.46; 6. Rob Pelikan (Palmyra) 16.69.
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3,200-METER RUN: 1. Mark Kearney (Pennsville) 9:38.38; 2. Eric DuBois (Schalick) 10:02.39; 3. Matthew Smith (New Egypt)10:12.63; 4. Peter Carter (Woodbury) 10:18.59; 5. Shane Hart (Point Pleasant Beach) 10:20.38; 6. Brian Abate (Maple Shade) 10:28.16.
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DISCUS: 1. Tyree Rudolph (Penns Grove) 147-0; 2. Robert McCloskey (Riverside) 137-0; 3. Josh Girtain (Pennsville) 133-1; 4. Amir Ross (Palmyra) 132-3; 5. Andrew Johnson (Schalick) 126-1; 6. Maxili Efelis (Pennsville) 125-5.
JAVELIN: 1. Warren Oliver (Palmyra) 175-11; 2. Scott Cunningham (Pitman) 156-10; 3. Chad Oldacker (Pennsville) 150-8; 4. Ricky McIlvaine (Pitman) 147-8; 5. Ryan Gauntt (Maple Shade) 144-06; 6. Tom Bair (Clayton) 142-4.
TRIPLE JUMP: 1. Sean Jimoh (Riverside) 44-10 ½; 2. Perry Asare (Lindenwold) 44-3 ¼; 3. Matt Kates (Schalick) 42-11; 4. Carlton Thomas (Schalick) 42-8 ¼; 5. Chris Georges (Penns Grove) 41-10; 6. Steven Brown (Penns Grove) 41-10.
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POLE VAULT: 1. Shawill Green (Penns Grove) 12-6; 2. Marcus Corbitt (Pitman) 12-6; 3. Tom Bair (Clayton) 12-0; 4. Matthew van Norman (New Egypt) 11-0; 5. Nico Cremer (Riverside) 10-6; 6. Mike Caruso (Maple Shade) 10-6.
GIRLS
GROUP IV
TEAM SCORING: 1. Southern Regional 83.5; 2. Lenape 80; 3. Toms River North 51; Millville 49; 5. Absegami 40; 5. Washington Township 40; 7. Cherokee 29; 8. Oakcrest 24.5; 9. Williamstown 24; 10. Eastern 22; 11. Winslow Township 15; 12. Mainland 14; 13. Toms River South 12; 14. Lacey Township 8; 15. Vineland 3; 16. Cherry Hill West 1.
Here at EHT for the South Jersey Group I and IV sectionals.
It’s a cool windy day - not bad conditions.
We’ll be posting as results as the meet moves along.
Already had one local winner - Demetrius Rooks wins the Group IV 400 hurdles in 53.43.
Another local winner. Keenan Bell of Oakcrest jumps 6-4 to win the Group IV high jump.
Geoff Navarro of Absegami took the Group IV 100- and 400-meter dash.
Wildwood’s James Bevans won the Group I 400 (50.8)
And to no one’s surprise, Jill Smith took the 1,600 in Group IV girls. Her teammate Julia Beekman won the Group IV triple jump with 36 feet, 1/2 inches.
Dana Keister of Absegami won the javelin with a throw of 121 feet flat.
BOYS GROUP IV
TEAM SCORING: 1. Absegami 40; 2. Egg Harbor Township 30; 3.Washington Township 29; 4. Oakcrest 20; 5. Southern Regional 16; 6. Winslow Township 15; 7. Williamstown 14; 8. Cherokee 13; 9. Toms River East 9; 10. Pennsauken 8; 11. Lenape 6; 11. Millville 6; 13. Toms River North 5; 14. Cherry Hill East 4; 15. Toms River South 2.
400-METER HURDLES: 1. Demetrius Rooks (Absegami) 53.43; 2. Tim Carrey (Washington Township) 54.34; 3. Harold Lathan (Egg Harbor Township) 54.68; 4. Stevenson Cajuste (Egg Harbor Township) 54.75; 5. Chris Rutherford (Toms River East) 54.97; 6. Rashun Prince (Toms River East) 56.08.
1,600-METER RUN: 1. Xavier Fraction (Washington Township) 4:22.77; 2. Victor Sherman (Southern Regional) 4:24.16; 3. Ryan Garvin (Lenape) 4:25.14; 4. Ford Palmer (Absegami) 4:25.55; 5. David Berger (Cherry Hill East) 4:25.84; 6. Joseph Kotran (Toms River North) 4:26.02.
100-METER DASH: 1. Geoff Navarro (Absegami) 10.72; 2. Tejay Johnson (EHT) 10.93; 3. Khalid Cherry (Millville) 10.98; 4. .Darin Washington (Winslow Township) 11.04; 5. Barry Cephas (Winslow Township) 11.06; 6. Nico Steriti (Toms River East) 11.11.
LONG JUMP: 1. Stevenson Cajuste (Egg Harbor Township) 22-2; 2. Chris Steliga (Cherokee) 21-4 ¼; 3. Glenn Williams (Williamstown) 21-0 ½; 4. Keenan Bell (Oakcrest) 20-11 ½; 5. Andrew Micheliche (Toms River South) 20-9 ¾; 6. Major Mobley (Cherokee) 20-7 ½.
SHOT PUT: 1. Kwabena Keene (Washington Township) 59-3; 2. Joseph Carmichael (Pennsauken) 54-0; 3. Chase Petrucci (Southern Regional) 53-5; 4. Evangelos Regas (Toms River North) 53-0; 5. Anthony Stroffolino (Southern Regional) 51-0 1/2; 6. Dave Helterbrand (Washington Township) 50-2 1/2.
HIGH JUMP: 1. Keenan Bell (Oakcrest) 6-4; 2. Glenn Williams (Williamstown) 6-2; 3. Jose Lopez (Oakcrest) 6-2; 4. Chris Rutherford (Toms River East) 6-0; 5. NjokuUchenna (Cherry Hill East) 6-0; 6. Rashun Prince (Toms River East) 6-0.
GROUP I
TEAM SCORING: 1. Penns Grove 54; 2. Paulsboro 31; 3. Burlington City 23; 4. Schalick 20 1/3; 5. Palmyra 20; 6. Pennsville 16; 7.Wildwood 12 1/3; 8. New Egypt 12; 9. Clayton 10; 10. Maple Shade 6; 11. Gloucester City 4; 12. Lindenwold 3; 13. Pitman 2 1/3 14. Riverside 2; 15. Woodbury 1.
400-METER HURDLES: 1. Stephon Bell (Penns Grove) 57.08; 2. Willie Anderson (Paulsboro) 57.46; 3. Darren Carter (Paulsboro) 57.58; 4. Mike Caruso (Maple Shade) 57.76; 5. Rob Pelikan (Palmyra) 58.1; 6. Charlie Thomas (Burlington City) 59.09.
1,600-METER RUN: 1. Mark Kearney (Pennsville) 4:27.22; 2. Sean Vazquez (New Egypt) 4:30.05; 3. Anthony Mowers (Pennsville) 4:31.05; 4. Eric DuBois (Schalick) 4:35.26; 5. Brian Abate 4:35.66; 6. Peter Carter (Woodbury) 4:38.08.
HIGH JUMP: 1. Warren Oliver (Palmyra) 6-2; 2. Chris Barnes (Burlington City) 6-2; 3. Darrin Moore (Penns Grove) 6-0; 4. TIE Matt Kates (Schalick), Marcus Corbitt (Pitman) and James Bevans (Wildwood) 5-10.
LONG JUMP: 1. Steven Brown (Penns Grove) 22-8; 2. Chris Barnes (Burlington City) 21-6; 3. Matt Kates (Schalick) 21-3; 4. Chris Georges (Penns Grove) 21-0; 5. Sean Jimoh (Riverside) 20-6; 6. Terry Boone (Schalick) 19-10.
SHOT PUT: 1. Tyree Rudolph (Penns Grove) 49-4 ¾; 2.Ken Jefferson (Penns Grove) 47-8 ½; 3. Kyle Kemp (Schalick) 46-3 ¼; 4. Kevin Stiles (New Egypt) 44-7; 5. Tavion Carter (Lindenwold) 42-7 ¾; 6. Jordan Gilbert (Schalick) 41-6.
GIRLS
TEAM SCORING Group IV: 1. Toms River North 36; 2. Southern Regional 31.5; 3. Millville 30; 4. Washington Township 24; 5. Absegami 20; 6. Lenape 19; 6. Cherokee 19; 8. Williamstown 18; 9. Oakcrest 16.5; 10. Toms River South 12; 11. Eastern 10; 12. Mainland 8; 13. Vineland 2; 14. Cherry Hill West 1; 14. Lacey Township 1.
After an extended break, I’ve vowed to return to blogging.
It’s about time I get with the 21st century.
And what better time of the year to pick things back up. The spring sports season is coming to a head, and there should be plenty to write about over the next two weeks.
We’ll start with a Cape-Atlantic League American Conference baseball update.
The race for the overall conference title is between Millville and Mainland.
Millville, led by Press Player of the year candidate Mike Trout, holds the upper hand.
The Thunderbolts (15-5) have already wrapped up the American Conference Division I title.
Mainland is the CAL American Conference Division II winner. The Mustangs (14-8) suffered a tough defeat on Tuesday when they squandered a 3-0 lead and lost to Vineland 5-3.
Millville is 14-2 in the conference. Mainland is 11-4. Millville beat Mainland 8-1 on May 6. An April game between the two was 2-2 when the game was called because of fog. The league ruled it must be replayed from the start. It has not yet been rescheduled (or if it has no one has told us!)
Teams play 18 conference games.
Millville has already clinched a tie for the conference.
The Thunderbolts can clinch the title outright with a win at Ocean City on Tuesday. That game could be pushed be back, however, because Millville is still involved in the state tournament.
Both Mainland and Millville have playoff games Friday.
Millville hosts Cherry Hill East. Mainland travels to Lenape. Both contests are South Jersey Group IV quarterfinals.
Check out Friday’s Press for a feature story on Sacred Heart and the big season they’ve had so far.
Also check the blog on Friday after 4 p.m. for updated results from the South Jersey Group I and IV track and field championships at Egg Harbor Township.
