Play Ball One More Time

The Toms River National All-Stars will play one more game in what’s been an unforgettable summer for the 13 players and 3 coaches, not to mention the families of all involved. At noon today in Williamsport, Pennsylvania the Mid-Atlantic champions will take on the Arabian American Little League in a consolation game that will be televised on ESPN2. The “bash boys” from Mapletree Road figure to get their mojo back today against a Saudi Arabian team that lost its two games by a combined score of 31-0. After today’s game the Toms River group will spend the rest of the day in Williamsport and then is scheduled to leave tomorrow and return home…something the players are probably looking forward to. They have not slept in their own beds since early August and they won’t have much time left before school begins next week. However they have memories to last a lifetime and gave us all something to root for over the last few weeks.

It started with a group of guys playing pick-up games at a local gym and it’s grown into a full fledged summer adult basketball league. The Baker League playoffs begin tonight with the championship game set for Thursday
at Toms River Intermediate School East. Thursday’s championship game will start at 7pm and admission will be $10 with all proceeds being donated to Ocean of Love For Children with Cancer and to the Toms River National Little League team.

Lifeguards in Bay Head will unveil a bronze plaque in memory of the late Don Fioretti this Saturday at 9:30am at Beach Patrol headquarters on Bridge Avenue. Fioretti was the Beach Supervisor in Bay Head for 37 years from 1972 until his death last July. He was also a teacher, coach and Athletic Director at Point Pleasant Beach High School.

The Lakewood BlueClaws are now selling individual game playoff tickets as they seek to defend their South Atlantic League championship. The first-half Northern Division champions will host their first playoff game on Friday, September 10th. Playoff tickets are available by calling (732) 701-9000, online at blueclaws.com or at the FirstEnergy Park box office.