By CHRIS CHRISTOPHER
The Ocean Township High School Football Booster Club will stage its Steak Bake on Saturday, Aug. 22, at 6:30 p.m. at the Oakhurst Firehouse, 72 Larkin Place.
All proceeds will benefit the Spartans’ football and cheer teams. An all you can eat buffet will consist of filet (beef), salad, french fries and drinks. There will also be music, a gift basket auction and 50/50s.
Tickets are $50 in advance and $65 at the door. To purchase a seat, go to spartansfootball.com.
In girls basketball:
Chebookjian cited: Ocean sophomore Bella Chebookjian earned the Emerging Leader Award for her play during the 2019-2020 season.
The owner of two varsity letters, she was honored for her positivity, dedication to the program and relentless effort.
In youth football:
Virus strikes: The Jersey Shore Conference of New Jersey American Youth Football has announced the cancellation of its 2020 football and cheer season because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the cancellation of our 2020 football and cheer seasons effective immediately,” secretary Tina Certo said in a statement. “Although it was a difficult decision, it was made in the best interest of our participants, volunteers and families. With the ongoing risk and increasing spread of the COVID-19 virus locally and nationally we believe the health risks involved in participating in a football and cheer season would be to the detriment of the children, coaches and volunteers we are charged with servicing.”
The organization serves numerous towns, including Asbury Park, Long Branch, Neptune and Ocean.
“We have provided the very best youth sports forum for our members, making a positive impact across Monmouth, Sussex, Middlesex, Union, Hunterdon and Ocean counties. It is our hope that we will be able to continue our mission in 2021 if conditions allow. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they are available and necessary. Please continue to take great care of your families and we look forward to seeing you all soon.
“Thank you for your support and understanding.”
In the College Corner:
Cole at Kentucky: Former Neptune standout Ron Cole has completed his freshman season on the University of Kentucky baseball team.
Cole, a righty, pitched in five games, all in relief, for the Wildcats. He posted a 6.35 earned run average. In 5 2/3 innings, he allowed six hits, struck out five and walked four. His WHIP (walks and hits to innings pitched) was 1.92.
Batters hit .333 against Cole, who faced 18 hitters. He was charged with one balk and two wild pitches. He hit one batter. He posted no decisions. He notched a strikeout in three of five outings. He whiffed the side in a perfect inning against Appalachian State University and pitched a career-high two innings against Norfolk State University in his final outing of the season, which was shortened because of the pandemic.
While with the Neptune Scarlet Fliers, Cole was rated 226th overall in the nation by the Prep Baseball Report. He was selected to the 2018 Perfect Game National Showcase. He was a 2019 Perfect Game/Rawlings Preseason All-American and Northeast All-Region team member.
As a senior, Cole pitched to a 4.06 earned run average, striking out 47 in 31 innings. He batted .420, scored 19 runs, drove in 22 runs and hit six home runs and three doubles. He’s a 6-foot-2, 200-pounder.
In academic news:
Locals cited: Former Ocean athlete Qudratullah Qadiri, ex-Monmouth Regional athletes Joel Burgos and Ricky Voss and Ocean resident Dylan Tyrrell earned honors.
Qadiri, a recent Stockton University graduate who starred in track and field for Ocean and the Ospreys, was named to the New Jersey Athletic Conference All-Academic first team for the second straight year. He was a biology major.
To be honored, an athlete must be either a sophomore, junior or senior from the 10 NJAC schools and its affiliate members who compete in a conference-sponsored sport with a minimum 3.20 grade point average.
Burgos, who played soccer for the Ospreys, majored in health science as a sophomore. Voss, who played baseball for New Jersey City University, earned honorable mention honors as a sophomore finance major. Tyrrrell, who competed in cross country and track and field as a Rowan University senior, majored in political science.
In road racing:
Marino on the run: Asbury Park resident Amanda Marino participated in the first Run Nova Virtual 5K.
Proceeds went to the @Villanova University Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Marino starred in women’s cross country and track and field for the Wildcats.
“I am proud of my alma mater for taking steps to learn, grow and improve,” she said on her Facebook page. “Action leads to progress. V’s up!”
A total of 546 athletes from 21 states and two nations participated. They covered more than 1,600 miles from June 12-14 and raised $14,344. The Villanova Athletics Department hosted the event.
“With this being the first one, we just wanted to bring the Villanova community together and get everyone moving,” event director Maureen Peiffer said. “This was not a results focused event so we did not have the participants track or submit their statistics.”
Marino excelled in girls cross country and track and field at Jackson Memorial High School.
In administrative news:
Dal Pra honored: Former Ocean teacher and coach Del Dal Pra was named the Monmouth County Athletic Director of the Year.
Dal Pra, who enjoyed a highly successful career as the Spartans’ baseball coach, recently retired as the Red Bank Regional Athletic Director.
