Sports Shorts

Cooperstown Dreams Park is a baseball facility that hosts 12 weeks of tournaments each summer for 12-year-olds, totaling over 1,100 teams from around the country. The final week is considered the "Crown Jewel" of the entire program, the prestigious National American Tournament of Champions Week. The Howell South Sox, a team from the Ramtown Section of Howell, just recently had the privilege of playing in this tournament.

The Sox is a team of local boys from Ramtown, many of whom Sox Manager Joe Gillies had coached since tee ball. "I decided to start a travel team three years ago but wanted to do it a little differently than other teams where all the kids try out and often don't know each other. The kids on my team have all grown up together, they know each other really well and get along great, and all the parents have also known each other for years. While there are other baseball tournaments around the country, our goal was always to play up at the home of baseball, Cooperstown Dreams Park in Cooperstown, N.Y."

Dreams Park has 22 brightly lit fields and over 90 barracks for the teams to stay in, with the goal of having the young players experience the purity of baseball as it was meant to be. Dreams Park, while promoting a high caliber of play, focuses on all players leaving with a sense of pride, dignity and accomplishment. From parachutists landing on the field at the opening ceremony, to each player having their name read as they run into the stadium at the closing ceremony, it all makes for a memorable experience for everyone involved.

The Sox played teams from New York to California, some teams of which had players on them that came from as many as six states, a far bigger area than the six block radius most of the Sox players come from. "We were overmatched on some games," Joe Gillies said, "but the boys improved each time they went out on the field, they had a fantastic time and we definitely had the loudest fans out of any team up there. We were also the first team just from Howell South to go, so we have now guaranteed a spot in the tournament as long as a team from our area wants to go. The next team is already set for next year, and I understand that there are teams for the next two years as well, so we were the trailblazer."

The College of New Jersey senior midfielder

Erin Cunliffe is in the middle of the final season of her collegiate soccer career and the Jersey Shore Boca U23 standout is making the most of her time on the pitch this year.

Cunliffe, who hails from Lakewood, is one of the shining stars for the Lions this season as she has helped her team to a 5- 1 start and a number one ranking in the country for women's Division III teams by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

The three-year letter winner has played in all six games for the Lions this season tallying three goals and two assists to date.

Cunliffe is also currently tied for second on the team in scoring with eight points and has fired 14 shots at opponents.

The Lakewood alum also tallied the first game-winning goal of her career against Haverford College (PA) on September 13.

Heading into this season, Cunliffe has played in 47 career games for TCNJ, scored 11 goals and assisted 4 times.

Cunliffe is a two-year member of the Boca U23 women's team, which advanced to the USASA U23 Regional Tournament for two consecutive seasons while also advancing to the MSSL Cup Championship in 2007.

Boca has been a fixture in the soccer community since 1978 and is one of the most respected soccer clubs on the East Coast.

The Club is celebrating their 30-year anniversary in 2008.

For more information about the Boca U23 teams and all other the Jersey Shore Boca programs logon to the club's official Web site at www.jerseyshoreboca.com

The Howell-Jackson Knights of Columbus Council 6201 is holding its first Charity Texas Hold'em Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 27, at the council home on Bartley Road in Jackson. The event will start at 6 p.m. and the cost is $100 to participate — additional rebuys and addons will be available during the event. The grand prize will be seven days in Aruba for two, including airfare from Newark, valued at $2,600. Prizes will be awarded to the top 10 players with the total prizes in excess of $7,000.

All proceeds from the event will go towards local organizations, including the Jackson Women of Today, the Jackson Food Pantry and the Knights of Columbus Benevolent Fund. The committee is looking for sponsors for the event. Event sponsors are priced at $100 and Table Sponsors will be $300. All sponsors will be recognized at the event and on the council's Web site.

Due to the popularity of Texas Hold'em, it is anticipated that the event will be sold out. To sign up as a player or a sponsor, simply go to the council's Web site at www.kofc6201.com, click on the Texas Hold'em button and print out the form - instructions are on the form. You may also contact Event Chairman Mick Washington at 732-300-3166 or via e-mail washmickey@aol.com.

Beverages and food will be available for purchase during the event.