Getting The Call To The Bigs

I am sure glad the world did not come to an end over the weekend because it would have meant that Todd Frazier never got to experience life as a major leaguer. However it appears the former Toms River High School South star will indeed be putting on the Cincinnati Reds uniform tonight when they open a four-game series in of all places Philadelphia. Last night I was dozing off when my son called me to say he had just spoken with Todd, who has been tearing it up lately with the Reds’ Triple A team in Louisville. The 25-year old, who has played a variety of positions, is scheduled to arrive in Philly early this afternoon. There has been no official posting of the roster move but you would have to believe that if Frazier is being called up the Reds plan on using him somewhere.

Many, including yours truly have waited for this day to come since watching Todd help Toms River East American win the Little League World Series in 1998. A gifted athlete who seemingly could do anything Frazier has been a standout at every level, setting records at Toms River South and Rutgers University before turning pro. He is the youngest of three baseball-playing brothers and certainly had to benefit from all the time spent with Charlie and Jeff, who is with the Nationals’ Triple A team in Syracuse and got a taste of major league life with the Tigers last summer. Todd was the one all along though who most felt had the best chance of making the show and he is about to experience what is the dream of every kid who has put on a Little League uniform. The nicest part is it comes with the Reds set to play 4 games at Citizens Bank Park so you can be sure there will be plenty of family and friends making the trip down Route 70.

After losing to New Egypt in the finals of the Ocean County Softball Tournament the last two years you can’t blame Toms River East fans and even players if having the play the Warriors again brought back some bad memories. However the third time turned out to be the charm thanks largely to sophomore Jordan Weed, who threw a no-hitter Sunday and led the Raiders to a 2-0 win at Lacey High School.
Weed struck out 9 and walked 6 as sixth-seeded East won their 7th county title. The Raiders scored the only run they would need in the 1st inning on an RBI single by tournament Most Valuable Player Chelsea Guttridge. It was the second no-hitter ever thrown in an OCT final with the other coming in 2007 from another East pitcher, Lyndsey PeQueen, who ironically threw a ceremonial first pitch before Sunday’s game.