PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Dugout Diaries, a comprehensive look into the 2008 Rutgers baseball season made its debut on Thursday. The weekly segment, which will appear every Wednesday on www.scarletknights.com, chronicles the Scarlet Knights\’ campaign through the eyes of All-BIG EAST infielder Tom Edwards (West Caldwell, N.J.).

Edwards will detail the highs and lows of RU\’s season as it begins its defense of the BIG EAST Regular-Season and Tournament titles from last season.

Follow this link to view the first installment of Dugout Diaries and click on the link on the right of the baseball page for each week\’s entry.

Rutgers Athletics News
www.scarletknights.com
Scarlet Knights Get First Victory at Bainton Field In 2008

3/12/2008 7:33:46 PM

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers baseball team erased a 3-2 early deficit with a 10-run fourth inning before an out in the frame en route to a 16-3 victory over the New Jersey Institute of Technology Wednesday afternoon at Bainton Field.

The Scarlet Knights (4-6) came back from a 2-0 first-inning deficit with one swing of the bat as sophomore Dan Betteridge (Sewell, N.J.) cleared the wall in left field for his first career home run in the second inning.

A Dom Hayes solo home run put the Highlanders (2-8) up, 3-2, in the fourth inning, but the lead was short-lived as Rutgers erupted for 10 runs in the bottom half of the inning and never looked back en route to the lopsided victory. Newly-inserted Highlander pitcher Mike Burgaleta issued three-straight bases-loaded walks to plate the first scores of the inning before being replaced by Chris Parenti. After a wild pitch scored a fourth run, Gossard hit an infield single to plate the fifth score of the frame. Three more runs came home when freshman Jaren Matthews (Teaneck, N.J.) tripled to the gap in left center. A ninth run came across thanks to a ground-rule double from junior Luis Feliz (New Brunswick, N.J.), his second hit of the frame. NJIT inserted its third pitcher of the inning in Spiro Molfetas. After a sacrifice fly from Vic Cegles (Phoenix, Ariz.) scored the 10th and final run of the inning, the Highlander hurler retired the next two batters to end the long frame.

Rutgers used a pair of NJIT errors and a wild pitch to plate two additional runs in the eighth.

Meanwhile, Rutgers starter Jon McCue (Hillside, N.J.) struck out six and allowed three runs on five hits in seven innings of work to pick up his first win of 2008. The duo of Kyle Bradley (Howell, N.J.)Ryan Beard (Point Pleasant, N.J.) worked scoreless frames in relief for RU. and

Burgaleta (0-1) was tagged with the loss after giving up six runs in the fourth. The Highlanders used six pitchers in the contest.

Senior Jon Gossard (Harrington Park, N.J.), Feliz and Betteridge each collected three hits to lead the Scarlet Knights\’ 10-hit attack. Wednesday also marked the collegiate debut of true freshman Mike Lang (Dumont, N.J.) and red-shirt freshman Matt Meyerkopf (Florham Park, N.J.).

The 16 runs on Wednesday were the most scored this season and the most since May 5, 2007 when RU defeated Cincinnati at Bainton Field, 16-6.

Rutgers travels south to the state of Florida for a three-game series with Iowa in DeLand, Fla., the home of Stetson University. The Scarlet Knights and Hawkeyes will open the series with a double-header at noon on Saturday.

STEPHANIE HERRICK EARNS USTFCCCA REGIONAL HONOR

By Lyle Fulton

Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey women’s indoor track and field team will look to add to its impressive list of All-Americans as the Lions have several individuals competing this weekend at the 2008 NCAA Division III Championships.

The championship event will be held March 14-15 and hosted by Ohio Northern University.

Junior Stephanie Herrick (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) earned All-American honors last season in the 800 meters and is poised to step onto the podium for the second straight year. The top eight finishers in each event are recognized as All-Americans. Herrick broke her own school record in that event last month with a swift time of 2:11.78. The trials for the event are set for Friday evening with the finals on Saturday. Her other individual event is the mile and she holds that school record as well. She qualified for the mile with a time of 4:56.25 at the New York University FasTrack Invitational.

The Lion will also be part of the distance medley relay. She will be joined on the DMR by junior Martine McGrath (West Long Branch, NJ/Shore Regional), freshman Rochelle Prevard (Sicklervielle, NJ/Winslow Township) and freshman Meryl Wimberly (Farmingdale, NJ/Coltsneck) as the quartet teamed up for a qualifying mark of 11:57.14. Sophomore Jianna Spadaccini (Butler, NJ/Butler) has also ran in the relay during the course of the season and will serve as the alternate. That race will be the final event of the opening day of competition.

Herrick was also tabbed as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division III Atlantic Region Indoor Track Athlete of the Year.

McGrath will also run in the 5,000 meters as she qualified for the championships last week completing the race in 17:16.60. That race is set for Friday afternoon.

TCNJ will be represented in the field events by junior Kristen Tricocci (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) in the long jump. Tricocci’s qualifying leap came at the Princeton Relays as she sailed 5.48 meters. The preliminary and final rounds of the event will be held on Friday.

Oxford, OH – The College of New Jersey’s women’s swimming team opened competition at the 2008 NCAA Division III Championships on Thursday. The three-day event is being held at the Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center on the campus on Miami University.

TCNJ’s senior Lauren Pfeifer (Freehold, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) opened competition as she swam in the 50 freestyle event. She would record a personal best time of 24.97, but finished in 40th place and did not advance to the evening finals of the event.

Senior Ava Kiss (North Brunswick, NJ/Stuart Country Day) competed for the Lions in the 200 individual medley race and posted an impressive time of 2:10.42 to finish in 28th place, but did not advance to the finals.

On Friday, Kiss will compete in the 100 butterfly, while Pfeifer will compete in the 100 breaststroke.

Thursday, March 13-2008 (1500hours)

 

Brooklawn Fire Company was dispatched to 214 New Jersey for a reported house fire, the fire was on the first floor of a two story twin.

Fireman on left is Mike Wallace.

 

One female occupant was transported for smoke inhalation; Camden County Fire Marshal\’s Office is investigating.

 

Brooklawn Fire Department was assisted by Bellmawr, Mount Ephraim and West Collingswood Heights Fire Departments.

 

 

Steve Skipton photos

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 98

WHEREAS, United States Army Corporal Steven R. Koch, of Milltown, New Jersey, enlisted in the Army in March 2006; and

WHEREAS, Corporal Koch was a highly dedicated paratrooper; and

WHEREAS, Corporal Koch was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, Corporal Koch was a dedicated soldier as well as a loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend, whose memory lives in the hearts of his family and fellow soldiers; and

WHEREAS, Corporal Koch died in Afghanistan from wounds suffered in combat operations while serving as a member of the United States Army; and

WHEREAS, Corporal Koch has received some of our nation’s highest military honors, including the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Parachutist’s Badge; and

WHEREAS, Corporal Koch’s love for his family and friends, his patriotism and dedicated service to his country and his fellow soldiers make it appropriate and fitting for the State of New Jersey to mourn and remember him, to mark his passing, and to honor his memory;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JON S. CORZINE, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

The flag of the United States of America and the flag of New Jersey shall be flown at half-staff at all State departments, offices, agencies, and instrumentalities during appropriate hours on Thursday, March 13, 2008, in recognition and mourning for a son of New Jersey and a brave and loyal American, United States Army Corporal Steven R. Koch.

This Order shall take effect immediately.

Source: New Jersey Governor

By Lyle Fulton 

Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey women’s basketball program received a pair of honors as junior Hillary Klimowicz (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) was named as a finalist for All-America honors, while head coach Dawn Henderson was tabbed as the regional coach of the year.

Klimowicz was one of five players from Region 3 named to the ballot for the 2008 State Farm Coaches’ All-America Basketball Team for the Women’s Coaches Basketball Coaches Association for Division III. There are eight different regions and the 40 finalists, who are voted upon by WBCA member coaches in each of the eight WBCA award regions, are now in the running for selection to the 10-member State Farm Coaches\’ All-America Team.

The State Farm Coaches\’ All-America Basketball Team will be announced at the NCAA Division III Women\’s Basketball Banquet on Thursday, March 20, at Hope College in Holland, Mich.

Henderson was tabbed as 2008 Russell Athletic/WBCA Region 3 Coach of the Year after guiding the Lions to a 22-7 season. TCNJ won the New Jersey Athletic Conference South Division with an 11-2 conference mark and advanced to the conference championship game. The team then earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Championship and moved into the second round of the tournament.

The veteran coach was previously tabbed as the 2008 NJAC Coach of the Year and boasts a career record of 334-164.

Klimowicz has reeled in numerous conference honors as she was selected as the 2008 NJAC Player of the Year and a First Team All-NJAC honoree.

The center had a banner season leading the team in a host of categories. She was the team’s top scorer and rebounder averaging 16.9 points and 11.0 boards. Those numbers rank her second and third, respectively, in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. She also leads the conference in field goal percentage hitting on 64.4 percent of her shots (206-for-320) and blocked shots per game at 4.10 per contest. Those numbers rank second and fourth nationally.

Klimowicz has received a host of other honors this season, including being named the NJAC Player of the Week seven times and ECAC Metro Player of the Week twice. She was named the most valuable player of the Gwynedd-Mercy College Classic and earned a spot on the Marymount University Tip-Off Classic All-Tournament Team. She recorded 20 double-doubles this season and scored in double figures in 27 of 29 games.

Klimowicz was previously recognized for her effort in the classroom as she earned CoSIDA’s ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II College Division honors. She was named All-District II Third Team as a psychology major and boasts a grade-point-average of 3.318.

Klimowicz was a 2006-07 All-NJAC First Team selection after joining the Lions from NCAA Division I St. Joseph’s University where she was selected the 2005-06 Atlantic 10 and Big Five Rookie of the Year.

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Row

By Albert Countryman Jr.

 The Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) presented five different alternatives for PATCO grade or light rail passenger trains coming through town at last week\’s Gloucester City Business Association (GCBA) meeting.

DRPA Chief Executive Officer John J Matheussen personally spoke to the group at Cap\’s Restaurant, and stressed the importance of the project, especially considering the rush hour traffic tie-ups on Route 676, Route 42 and Route 55.

Options include a PATCO grade railroad line, which would either go above or below ground, or light rail, which would run at ground level.

The new rail line would run from Philadelphia to Camden to either Williamstown or Glassboro.

There would be a hub station at Morgan Boulevard, said Matheussen, the former Republican state senator from Washington Township, who was a driving force in bringing the USS New Jersey to the Camden waterfront instead of it going to Bayonne.

Several of the options would use the Conrail right-of-way through Gloucester City and Brooklawn, and if it was light rail several existing railroad crossings would be closed.

If it was a PATCO grade line (high speed), then it would be built underground or overhead along the right-of-way.

Other PATCO grade options include going along Route 676, 42 and along Route 55.

Mayor William James asked how long the project would take, and the answer was at best seven to eight years, but \”probably closer to 10 years.\”

Mayor James expressed concern about the frequent trains causing ties ups for people trying to get from one side of Gloucester City to the other, and was upset by the way Conrail has done a \”poor job\” maintaining the right-of-way.

Matheussen assured him the PATCO and the DRPA would take much better care of the right-of-way.

Anyone with questions can call the DRPA at 968-2444.

 

 

 

By Hank F. Miller Jr.

 

The whole world is going to hell in a hand basket, and Japan is leading the way.

That is if, like me, you equate hell with the use of cell phones.

Now I think I am a progressive-minded guy.

In most cases I cannot resist new gadgetry and my home is a miniature showcase of other high-tech innovations such as a battery charged nose-hair clipper, a Homer Simpson talking bottle opener and a rubber fish that can sing.

Most of this junk here my kids brought home but I claim responsibility for a few of these junky items that are too numerous to mention.

I have not popped for those quite robot dogs, but only because space in my house is at a premium and I am waiting for Sony to develop a more petite animal that will better match my living quarters. Like perhaps a robot worm or a clam that can play country music.

And neither have I purchased the leash that is a cellular phone. Nor I hereby vow on a gnawed \”yakitory\” Meat on sticks which we eat here-Will I ever.

 

Yet to be honest, I do not live in an entirely cell-phone free environment. My wife has one of the wicked devices snoozing by her bedside each night.

I can borrow it whenever I want which to my way of thinking would be like borrowing a live grenade. Why would I ever do that?

 

For I deem such contraptions to be an affront to my senses. And while I know the entire world is now engrossed and dependent on mobile phones, I am betting that nowhere is that addiction as rabid as in gizmo-manic Japan.

Step out any Japanese door and one will see what dots each and every street in this nation, People.

Yet now these flowing minions are highlighted by genuine walkie-talkies, fast-moving individuals who yackety-yak while they stride blindly forward.\”What was that crash?\”Screams a squeaky cellular friend.\”Oh, that I walked into a bus. But no matter. I can still hear you. Keep talking!\”

 

Or glance in any train car and one finds many passengers no longer absorbed in books and newspapers. Rather they sit transfixed as they flick their cell phones open and closed, as if their focus were drawn by some ghostly inner voice the hauntingly commands, \”If you watch it, they will call.\”

 

Or stake out any university classroom. When the bell rings and the students come pouring out, each will in turn flip open, not unlike Roman foot soldiers unsheathing their blades for combat.\”We came, \”goes the motto, \”we saw, we telephoned.\”

 

Of course the sounds are as bad as the sights. It\’s jarring enough when the stranger besides you suddenly begins to blob and babble into thin air-\”Hey, Taro! How\’s life? Me, Well, I\’m walking next to some runty foreigner and we just passed some gal lying under a bus\”-but at times the content too can be riveting.

 

A la\”: \”Listen! I don\’t care what your brother called you; you let him out of the closet now!\” From nowhere comes a loud tune.

Everyone plays tag with their eyes and then all recognize the song at the very same instant. It\’s the enchanting theme to \”Popeye.\”

No less than three people tear into their bags after their phones, only one of which is piping out the music.

 

While that person answers, the other two ponder some other cool song to use as a ring program. Odds are they will again pick the very same thing, this time perhaps the classic notes of \”Camp town Races.\”A more recent feature has been added and built into many phones.

Now when I nap on the train, I worry over how many Japanese have just taken my picture and have just e-mailed a secret shot of the snoring \”gaijin\”=foreigner with his mouth wide open.

 

Embarrassing, I admit but I\’ve done the same thing with my nose hair clippers. That\’s one reason I prefer my rubber fish; it\’s far more user friendly. As for the talking bottle opener, I fear Homer Simpson may be affecting my brain worse than phone radiation.\”You know,\” my wife says, \”this phone technology will not disappear. You\’ll just have to get used to it someday.\”She says I should have a cellular phone; they\’re very useful in an emergency.

\”I said to her I don\’t expect any emergencies at this time and besides, you have one if needed, No thank you.\”

So? I have to die someday too. And I prefer to meet that day with dignity. Which-to my way of thinking-means living my life without a cellular phone and free of all the interruptions in my daily routine?

 

Warm Regards from Kitakyushu City, Japan

Hank F. Miller Jr

Related: When East meets West