Pat Marinaccio

TOMS RIVER - There is a sports cliche that goes something like, "hitting a baseball is the most difficult thing to do in sports" and Toms River North senior Pat Marinaccio spent three years avoiding that very difficult thing, at least in a competitive setting...

TOMS RIVER - Twice in its Shore Conference Class A South road game against Toms River North, the Brick Memorial baseball team had a lead that could be considered safe against most teams on most days. On this particular day, the Mustangs twice coughed up leads of four runs or more in only one inning...

TOMS RIVER - Losing to rival Toms River East Saturday would not have spoiled the plans of the Toms River North boys basketball team to eventually win a third outright Shore Conference Class A South division championship in three years, but it would have ended a pursuit that the Mariners currently hold in high regard because it is a new frontier for a program that is fast making winning old hat...

TOMS RIVER - Toms River North junior Mike Nyisztor has seen opposing defenses try all sorts of things to keep him from getting his shot off over the last year, so when he draws a defensive assignment like the one coach Rory Caswell gave him on Monday in the WOBM Christmas Classic semifinals against Freehold Township, he can put himself in his opponent's shoes...

*Photo gallery by Sports Pix NJ* TOMS RIVER - Toms River North entered Tuesday night's showdown against Southern with an undefeated record and a WOBM Christmas Classic title already under its belt, but the Mariners knew they still weren't at full power yet...

On the surface, sophomore Mike Nyisztor and junior Pat Marinaccio lack the big-game, varsity experience that many other players throughout the WOBM Christmas Classic field have, but in many ways, games like the one in which they played on Tuesday night are in their blood.