Lifeguards & Baseball

Perfection is such a rarity that it stands out. An example would be a pitcher throwing a perfect game in baseball or a team going through a season without a loss or tie. In real life perfection is even more noteworthy which made the track record of the Seaside Heights Beach Patrol truly something to marvel at. Each summer the lifeguards who watch the water carry the burden of not only protecting swimmers but looking to extend a streak that goes back to previous generations…it appears tragically that the streak of perfection has ended. Until Wednesday there had never been a drowning in Seaside Heights while lifeguards were on duty, a record that was just days away from extending into another summer. However around lunchtime two teen-agers from Camden County got knocked over by a wave and caught in a rip. A lifeguard went out in the water and was able to rescue one but could not get the other and this morning the search continues for a 16-year old who it appears will be the first swimmer to lose his life on guarded beaches in the borough. What has made this record of perfection so noteworthy is more than maybe any other beach at the shore Seaside Heights deals with people who are daily visitors and not very familiar with the ocean. It has made the task of protecting those swimmers an even bigger challenge and on a beautiful September afternoon a streak that you hoped would never end finally did. Alas perfection is truly hard to find.

Switching gears…. the Lakewood BlueClaws played their final regular season home game last night but FirstEnergy Park could host as many as four more games before this season is over. That’s because the BlueClaws are headed to the playoffs and will likely face the Kannapolis Intimidators next week in a best-of-3 first round series. That series will start on the road Wednesday night before coming to Lakewood on Friday night. On a related note tonight will be a special evening for BlueClaws General Manager Geoff Brown. He and his wife Susan will not only be the guests of the Phillies for their game against the Giants but Brown will receive a 2008 World Series championship ring made even more special by the fact that ex-BlueClaws Ryan Howard & Cole Hamels fueled Philly’s success. It’s a well deserved honor for an outstanding General Manager and an individual who has made a real impact in the community.