The Comeback Jaguars from Jackson Memorial

Random thoughts on this Friday morning which is 5/15/15 for what it’s worth.

This is also the final unofficial weekend of spring because next weekend is Memorial Day weekend which we know is the kickoff to summer, a month before the calendar says so.

Jackson Memorial came back from deficits three times last night before outlasting Barnegat 8-6 in the Ocean County Baseball Tournament championship game at Toms River East.  Matt Crispe singled in the go-ahead run in a three-run bottom of the 6^th and finished the night with three hits and two RBI’s on his way to being named the Tournament’s most valuable player. 

Matt Castronuova threw three innings of one-run relief to earn the win before Jaguars ace Brandon Janofsky tossed a perfect 7^th inning to secure the second OCT title in four years for the Jags.  Jackson Memorial now turns its attention to the Shore Conference Tournament where they will host Howell in the round of 16 tomorrow and they begin defense of their Group 4 state title next week. 

The loss was a tough one for the Bengals who have reached the OCT finals in each of the last two seasons but have not yet carried home the trophy.  For more on the game including highlights visit shoresportsnetwork.com

93 of the shore’s top student-athletes will be honored Sunday morning during the Shore Conference of High Schools Sportsmanship Awards program at the Pine Belt Arena.  I will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the event which salutes a senior male and female from every school in the Shore Conference for upholding the ideals of good sportsmanship, on and off the field. 

The program has been going on for many years but this is the first time both Ocean and Monmouth County schools will come together under one roof.

Tomorrow would have been the 87^th birthday of James Williams, known to many of his friends as “Bear.” Sadly there will be no birthday celebration as the “Bear” went into permanent hibernation six months ago.  Tomorrow I will light up a cigar and toast a man whose definition of a good day was spending it with family and friends and being able to laugh. A lot.  Miss you Dad!