Quick Hitters

A few quick hitters on this Tuesday morning:


Tis the season for Little League Tournaments and the road to Williamsport continues later this week for Toms River National. The Section 3 champs are one of four teams that will compete in the state tournament which begins Friday at Van Horn Park in Hamilton. Toms River National will play North Hunterdon National in the first game and West New York American faces Northfield in the double elimination tournament which sends the winner to the Mid Atlantic Regional in Bristol, Connecticut. The Toms River 11 and 12 year olds put on a hitting display in winning the sectionals last week…scoring 52 runs in winning all three of their games. The Manchester Township Little League hosted the Section 3 tournament and by all accounts did a superb job. The facility on Route 571 could be a future site for the state tournament.

Meanwhile Berkeley’s bid for a Junior League sectional title came up just short as they fell to North Wall 9-5 in last night’s championship game at the South Wall Little League.

Ortley Beach won the team title at last night’s 23rd Annual Seaside Park Lifeguard Tournament. Ortley Beach used victories in the Iron Man Medley and 1000 foot row to take control of the 8-team tournament as they beat out Surf City with Ocean Beach II coming in third. The event was held in ideal conditions and as in the past was sponsored by the Seaside Park Service Center, Sawmill Café, Surf Taco and B&B Department Store. As I’ve done for most of the past ten years I was a lane judge and I’m happy to report there were no incidents of any kind.

In early June Rick Handchen was honored by his peers as the Ocean County Athletic Director of the Year but starting next week he’ll be working out of the area. Handchen is leaving Brick Township High School after many years to run the Athletic Department at Clifton High School. He’s making the move after the Board of Education eliminated his position which would have required him to return to the classroom. Handchen’s father Hank was the first-ever Athletic Director when Brick High School opened and it’s unfortunate he could not spend his entire career in Green and White. Good luck to a good guy!