The Coaster

By TOM SHORTELL
Asbury Park Volleyball will host its third annual Beach Open Sat., Aug. 2 and Sun, Aug. 3 on the Fifth Avenue beach.
Karen Jaroneski, event co-director, said they are expecting about 200 people to compete over the two days. Saturday will have four divisions of teams ranging in size from four to six players. Sunday will have the groups first twos tournament with three divisions. The tournament runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
The tournament attracts members of the GLBT community.
Were mostly gay, but were straight friendly, Jaronski said.

By TOM SHORTELL
Storm clouds loomed over Joe Palaia Park in Ocean Township Monday morning, but that didnt bother the six children in baseball gear who had infield practice.
While the kids may love the game, theyre on the field because of the passion of one man: Coach Smitty.
Thomas Smith, more commonly known as Coach Smitty, has run a free baseball class whenever the kids are out of school for the past 16 years, 14 of those at the current site across the street from Ocean Township Elementary School. Smith said he ran a similar program in Minnesota, where he lived for 22 years before moving back to New Jersey, a native of Livingston.

Coaster Photo:
The Her-Ricanes, a Neptune soccer team for 10-year-old girls, held a car wash at Caseys Restaurant in Neptune City over the weekend.

By TOM SHORTELL
The Ocean Township Youth Baseballs Babe Ruth Summer Program kicked off Monday night with opening ceremonies followed by games for the leagues 14 teams.
Michael Vernick, league president, opened the ceremony by speaking about the programs growth and its goal of helping its players grow, too.

The league is entering its third season and has expanded from two divisions with 75 kids to four divisions with 189.
Our main goal is pretty simple, Vernick said to the teams watching from the outfield grass. At the end of the year, we want every kid to be able to say they improved their baseball skills and had fun doing so.

By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
Neptune Citys Adams Field has won an award for its recreational facilities.
Mayor Thomas Arnone said he called former Mayor Holmes Adams right away after learning that the athletic field that bears his name won an award.
I am very happy to announce, and with all the hard work, that an award was given out, the Charles M. Pike Award, Arnone said.
Adams Field was chosen among 20 towns to receive the Charles M. Pike Award. It is given out by the Monmouth County Park System.
The mayor credits the public works department for all their hard work.
They take a lot of pride in it, he said.

By DON STINE
Neptune High School girls basketball team coach John Brown has been honored by his peers and selected Shore Coach of the Year by other coaches in Shore Conference B North Division.
Brown has now won the award for two consecutive years.
Its an honor when your peers feel you are doing a good job and it is also a testament to the girls and their abilities, Brown said.
The Neptune girls basketball team won the state Central New Jersey Group 3 sectional title championship March 7 after beating Freehold Borough High School.

First game on newly upgraded field Asbury Park Little League President Danny McKee (right) listens as former player Tyrone TC Asia speaks about perseverance and the success hes had since his days playing in the Asbury Park Little League.

By TOM CARDINALE

By TOM CARDINALE

Coaster Photo by Tom Cardinale Daniel Drum (red hat) is joined by his 2007 Ocean South All Star teammates as he prepares to throw out the seasons first pitch.

A crowd of hundreds braved the cold to officially open the 57th season Ocean Township Little League with their annual opening ceremonies on Tues., March 25.
Among those in attendance were Mayor William Larkin and Senator Sean Kean who both reminisced about their days playing in the Ocean Township Little League.