Sports Shorts The U11 Girls Old Bridge Thunder soccer team is looking for additional players from either Old Bridge or out of town to play next season, as the team prepares itself for full-sided 11-vs.-11 soccer. The Thunder will play either in MOSA Premier, MAPS or JAGS for the fall 2007 season. They practice two or three times per week, play a fall, winter and spring schedule along with six or seven tournaments per year. They are professionally trained, along with a very committed coaching staff. For information regarding tryouts, or the opportunity to guest play, call Chuck Mantione at (732) 241-2441. The Old Bridge Hustlers U12 girls softball team continued its spring/summer success by capturing their 10th championship of the season at the annual Freehold Summer Slam Pony Tournament held at Michael Tighe Park on July 8. In seeding play, the Hustlers went 2-1 with victories over Jersey Intensity, 12-0, and Nothampton, Pa., 18-1, and a tough 5-4 loss to Indian Mills, landing the team the second seed heading into Sunday's single-elimination playoff. In playoff action, with temperatures near 100 degrees, the Hustlers looked to stay hot and continue their championship run. In game one, the Hustlers defeated a very tough Jersey Diamond Girls team, 6-4, before beating host Freehold, 14-6, in the semis. The victories set up a showdown between the Hustlers and the Howell Heat. The Hustlers and Heat have a history of close games dating back to 2005, and this championship would prove true to form. The Hustlers took a 1-0 lead in the first and the Heat responded with one in the second to tie the game. In the bottom of the fifth, the Hustlers scampered three runs across the plate and looked to be in control with a 4-1 lead. Howell showed why it is one of N.J.'s top teams as it fought back to tie the score at 4-4 in the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the last inning, the Hustlers loaded the bases with one out before stealing home on a Heat intentional walk to earn a dramatic 5-4 victory. Both teams should be commended for their outstanding all-around play, as well as battling severe heat and humidity after playing three games in a row. The victory improved the Hustlers to 54-5-1 and earned the team a week off before heading to Massachusetts to defend their 2006 title at the Duquette Open.