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Returning to my roots a bit today I pass along some local sports news:

Jackson Memorial and CBA advanced to the championship game of the Shore Conference Baseball Tournament with semifinal wins yesterday.
The top-seeded Jaguars beat St. Rose 5-1 behind the pitching of Pete Kelich and a two-run homer from Brandon Adams. Meanwhile second-seeded CBA ousted Toms River North 4-1 to set up the championship showdown with Jackson next Wednesday night at FirstEnergy Park. The Mariners still have quite a bit to play for as they host Cherokee tomorrow in the South Jersey Group 4 finals. Point Pleasant Beach will also aim for a state sectional baseball crown when they visit Brearly Friday.

The softball teams from Toms River East and Central have reached state sectional finals after collecting victories Wednesday. Freshman Corey Schwartz drove in four runs and Lyndsey PeQueen tossed a 5-hitter as the Raiders blanked Cherokee 8-0 to move into the South Jersey Group 4 title game at top-seed Williamstown tomorrow afternoon. Meanwhile Central’s
Katelyn Pepper allowed just one hit as the Golden Eagles beat Kingsway 4-1
and will now host Delsea tomorrow in the South Jersey Group 3 final.

Rumson-Fair Haven won the team title at the Shore Conference Girls Golf Championship at Fort Monmouth but Ocean County golfers took the top three individual spots. Toms River North’s Sung Song shot an 87 to win the title by three shots over Kelsi Kavanagh of Point Boro and Manchester’s Alex Pomar.

Onto the tennis courts where Toms River North edged Toms River South to win the Ocean County Boys Tournament for the third straight year. The Mariners got individual titles from Connor Lisco at first singles and the second doubles team of Nick Thistle and Matt Haimowitz.

A couple of high school football coaching vacancies were filled this week. Longtime Point Pleasant Beach wrestling Coach Steve Sasse will now double as the Garnett Gulls football coach as well. At Holmdel Frank Papalia is promoted from assistant to head coach where he replaces Andy Carlstrom, who was one of several non-tenured teachers laid off. Papalia previously coached at Central Regional, his alma mater.