Weekly Sports Recap: Little League, Football, 5Ks, Bay Races

The local sports scene was filled with plenty of action this week for the Toms River area. 

Fans disappointed by the lack of NFL training camps starting up this week due to the lockout were treated to football action Thursday night, as Toms River North hosted the 34^th annual U.S. Army Gridiron Classic, an all-star game between Ocean and Monmouth county seniors.

The contest was a low scoring defensive affair with Ocean County squeaking by with a 6-3 victory.  With the game knotted up at 3-3 in the fourth quarter, Lacey’s Brian Mykoliw returned an interception to the Monmouth three yard line.  This set up Jared Molzon, also of Lacey, to knock in the go ahead field goal with just over eight minutes remaining.

On the diamond it was a tough week for the Toms River American All-Star team.  Playing in the final four trying to advance out of the District 18 championship round, Toms River was downed in a pitcher’s duel Tuesday night by the Brick Little League All-Stars, 4-2. 

The loss didn’t end Toms River’s hopes in the double elimination tournament, but rather set them up in a must win game Thursday night against Holbrook Little League of Jackson. 

Unlike their previous game, both team’s bats came alive in this slugfest, as the two teams combined for a 6 homeruns.  Unfortunately for Toms River they came out on the same end of the result, dropping this one to Holbrook 16-12.  Toms River was powered offensively by Cameron Dineen, who went three for four at the plate, with two homeruns and six RBIs.

In other Toms River area sports, the Ocean County Running Club continued their weekly 5k Tuesday night summer runs at Winding River Park. 

Overcoming temperatures above 90 degrees on Tuesday, Matt Nelson posted the overall top time, clocking in 16:42, winning with a 15 second margin over second place finisher Jordan Piaskowy.

The top female time was recorded by Danielle Leavitt, with a time of 19:43, just beating out second place finisher Jennifer Nelson by one second.

In the 14 & under division, Luke Gauthier recorded top male time, finishing the race in 20:56.

Abby Gauthier came in first place in the 14 & under female division, recording a time of 23:45.

The final week of the 5k summer series running will be this Tuesday, July 19, open to the public for all that wish to participate.  Registration begins at 6:15 at Winding River Park, $5 to Ocean County Running Club members, $6 to non-members.

On the water the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association continued their summer championship series racing on Saturday.  Listed below are the races and the winners.

• AM E Sloop – Rusells Lucas
• A CAT AM Jr. – Tim Brown
• M Sloop -  Tim Faranetta
• Sandpiper – Hans Bonn
• Sunfish Jr. – Maggie Magierski
• Sneakbox – Russ Lines
• PM E Sloop – Bobby Koar
• A Cat – Bill O’Brien
• Flying Scot – Peter Sayia
• Ensign – Thomas Healey
• Sanderling – Mark Q. Schleckser