Toms River Baseball Documentary Set For April Debut

TOMS RIVER, NJ — For more than two years, Sandy Levine has been hanging out at the baseball field at Toms River High School South. She's talked to players, young and old, and celebrities, local and national.

And now, her film capturing the spirit of Toms River South baseball — and the love of baseball in Toms River in general — is coming to the screen.

"South Baseball: The Spirit of Winning" will have its premiere showing on Sunday, April 8 at the Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts on the campus of Ocean County College.

Tickets are on sale now through the Grunin Center.

The documentary focuses on the extraordinary record of success compiled by Toms River South baseball coach Ken Frank, who has led the Indians' program for more than 40 years.

Levine, the independent filmmaker who produced "Heartbreak & Healing After Sandy," the documentary on the devastation wrought by Superstorm Sandy and some of the initial work to rebuild from the storm, grew up in Toms River. But it was more recently that she became intrigued with the success of Frank, the winningest baseball coach in New Jersey. Her initial research quickly led her to realize how much Toms River in general loves the sport, and how the town's love is interwoven with the success of the South team.

Nothing symbolizes that interweaving better than Todd Frazier, who first captured the town's hearts as a 12-year-old Little League hero. His trade to the New York Yankees — and their subsequent run through the American League playoffs, coming up just one game short of the World Series — was nothing short of serendipitious, Levine has said, and added a level to the film that no one could have scripted.

Levine showed a 5-minute clip of the documentary Friday night before Frazier sat down with sports broadcaster Russ Salzberg to talk to about his Toms River roots, his time in the Major Leagues, and what his future might hold. The clip emphasized how much Toms River loves the game, and hints at so much more.

Read more about Levine's film: Frazier's Role In Yankees' Playoff Run Adds Magic To Toms River Baseball Documentary.

You can read about Frazier's conversation with Salzberg here: Todd Frazier Talks Yankees, His Past, His Future At OCC Event

Tickets for the documentary premiere can be purchased here.

Photo of Sandy Levine and Todd Frazier courtesy of Sandy Levine