Updates On Local Athletes

I start this week by updating you on some local athletes that people are always asking me about:

Toms River’s Frazier brothers are both off to slow starts playing in baseball’s “Triple A” International League which is just one step below the majors. Jeff is an outfielder with the Toledo Mud Hens and through ten games was batting .188 with a home run and two RBI’s for the Detroit Tigers affiliate. Younger brother Todd is with the Louisville Bats, playing mostly third base where he’s hitting .161 with a homer and four RBI’s. The
Cincinnati Reds top prospect is expected to get his first taste of the major leagues at some point this season. While their numbers are not impressive keep in mind we are talking about a point in the season where a few good games and you raise your batting average considerably.

A couple of former Ocean County high school football standouts have big weeks coming up for very different reasons. Brick’s Garrett Graham awaits the NFL Draft to find out where his football future is headed after an outstanding career at the University of Wisconsin. The 6’3, 245 pound former Brick Memorial Mustang is ranked anywhere from fifth to tenth among the top tight ends in the draft and most experts have him going somewhere between rounds 3-5…obviously the higher he goes the better contract he can demand. The first round of the draft is Thursday night in New York and it continues Friday & Saturday…you can be sure the Graham family will be watching closely.

The start of his career at Penn State was delayed a bit but things seem to be going very well for Glenn Carson, an All-State linebacker at Southern Regional High School in 2008. Carson has made a nice impression on the coaching staff during spring practice which culminates with the Blue & White game this Saturday. He is currently listed as 3rd team inside linebacker and there is talk that he might not red-shirt this fall, but see action on special teams. As many as 70,000 are expected for the intra-squad scrimmage this Saturday.

If you’re a Phillies fan than tomorrow night you can see starting pitcher Joe Blanton in action close to home. Blanton will make a rehab start for the Lakewood BlueClaws at FirstEnergy Park.