Sports Shorts

Central Jersey Hornets U14 girls fast-pitch travel softball team seeks eligible "A" class pitcher and utility infielder. Workouts occurring now for spring and summer 2008 tournament and travel season. Open to girls from all New Jersey counties. For information, e-mail cjhornetssoftball@yahoo.com or call (201) 362-7610.

Madison Park Girls Softball League announced the following registration dates for the 2008 softball season. Registration will take place on Friday, Nov. 30, and Friday, Dec. 7, 6:30-8:30 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 1, and Saturday, Dec. 8, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration will take place at the Madison Park Little League field house on Cheesequake Road, Parlin section of Old Bridge (located behind the Madison Park Firehouse). Registration is on Dec. 6 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Old Bridge Public Library located on Route 516. For more information, call JoAnne (732) 251-3018.

Spotswood Youth Baseball League announced its first spring registration date will be Saturday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the municipal building. There will be a one-time discount at this registration only. All children ages 5-16 by April 30, 2008, are eligible to join. The league is affiliated with Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth League. Please provide a copy of the child's birth certificate to be kept on file with the registrar. Anyone wishing to manage or coach must provide a copy of their Rutgers certification and pass a background check. The final registration date will be Jan. 19. For more information, call the hot line at (732) 251-6111 or visit our Web site at www.leaguelineup. com/njsybl.

After a bit of a mid-season letdown, the Old Bridge Girls Blue Thunder U12 travel soccer team regrouped to win its last two games in impressive fashion and secure second place. In the first game, the Blue Thunder shut down first-place East Windsor for the first 58 out of 60 minutes, going up 2-0 before allowing a late-game score in what ended up being a 2-1 victory. In the second game against Marlboro, the Blue Thunder scored two first-half goals and followed that up with an early secondhalf goal in a 3-0 win to close the season. Once again the girls demonstrated their gritty character and finished the season playing their best soccer. This finish will allow the Blue Thunder to be promoted to the prestigious Premier flight in the Monmouth/ Ocean Soccer Association for the spring 2008 season

The Cheesequake Baseball League will be holding registration for the 2007/2008 season. In-person registration will be held Dec. 1 and Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cheesequake Fields located on Route 9 north and Schulmeister Road in Old Bridge. Preregister by Dec. 31 to receive a $20 discount.

Mail-in registration is available by going to the Web site at www.leaguelineup.com/cqba; click on Handouts to download an application.

For more information, call Nick Antuofermo at (732) 887-1014 and leave a message.

On Nov. 8, Kristi Kuchinski was inducted into the Montclair State University Athletics Hall of Fame.

Kristi was a starter all four years on the softball team. She holds many records and was a two-time All-American N.J. college softball player of the year as a junior. She also excelled behind the plate defensively, and went two seasons without committing an error. Kristi graduated from Cedar Ridge High School in Old Bridge in 1990, where she played softball and basketball.

As a member of the basketball team, she excelled guarding the tallest players. Cedar Ridge girls basketball teams won the Central Jersey Group III championship in 1989, and the Greater Middlesex County Championship in 1990.

The Monroe U13 Lady Falcons played with a shortened bench and fell to Marlboro 40-29. Samantha Clark led the Monroe scoring attack with nine points, while Kylie Davidson dropped in seven points. Christina Felice and Jackie Racine each netted six points, while Meghan Mc- Claren rounded out the scoring with a free throw. Victoria Clayton pulled down five rebounds for the Falcons. Monroe matches up next against Old Bridge and TYBA (Middletown). The Lady Falcons are 7-3 in Mid- Monmouth league play.

The U11 Girls Old Bridge Thunder soccer team finished its fall 2007 season in style by capturing first place in the Bordentown Invitational Thanksgiving Day Tournament this weekend in Bordentown New Jersey. Outscoring their opponents 14- 1, the Thunder were led by goalkeeper Gina Colamonico and fullbacks Nicole Velez, Tanvi Lodhia, Kristina Hourican, Alyssa Kramer and Felicia Panchenko. Goals were scored by Alexis Suarez, Samantha Potts, Samantha Hourican, Elana Konichowsky, Nicole Velez, Gina Colamonico and Vanessa Mantione. A special thanks goes to guest players Sierra Acri, Alyssa Somohano and Megan Catrola for their hard work, assists and tremendous effort.

The U8 Boys Old Bridge Falcons captured first place in the Howell United Holiday Cup over Thanksgiving weekend. The Falcons finished with a record of 3-0-1 in the five-team division, which included teams from Howell, Berkeley, South Brunswick and Ironbound. In four games, they outscored the opposition 8-2. The Falcons roster is made up of 11 boys and one girl: Arianna Allen, John Michael Aldorasi, Calogero Caruso, Jayson DeNovellis, Elan Dorkhman, Nicholas Liberal, Nicholas Lidondici, Timothy Mazzarelli, Christian Mc- Cartney, Christopher Modica, Nicholas Tavernise and Matthew Tedeschi. The team is coached by Bill Tavernise, Kevin Mc- Cartney and Tony Liberal.

Head coach Dean Vitale recorded his 200th victory when EB/Spotswood defeated Rosellein the Midgets Garden State Championship Sunday at Piscataway High School. In the second quarter, Paul Bruno kicked a 24-yard field goal to make it 3-0. Roselle QB Satiir Stevens led his team down field and took the lead on a Darius Mayers 5-yard run to make it 6-3. GBC QB Dean Vitale answered right back, hitting Sean Hudson, Sean Ward and Rich Decandia with a 33-yard strike to the 1-yard line. Bruno pounded it in to make it 9-6 at the half. The GBC defense dug in, shutting out the powerful Ram offense in the second half. Mat Mangerella, Chris Dallenbach and Damion Diaz led the charge. GBC pounded the running game with Bruno and fullback Ron Santana behind Dylan Lawless and Kolby Richardson, and in the fourth quarter Bruno iced it with a seven-yard run and extra-point 16-6 final. GBC finished as Central Jersey/Garden State champs. They started off with a 1-3 record before winning 11 straight to reach 12-3.