On March 13, Bob "Red" Pasciuto of Lakewood was the first person to be inducted into the Belmar Recreation Hall of Fame. Pasciuto grew up in Belmar, participating in the recreation baseball and basketball programs. At the age of 16, he was the youngest manager of a Belmar Little League team. After playing three sports in high school, Pasciuto continued coaching in Belmar. He was a leading player on the Belmar Dell Royals, was head coach of the Belmar Pop Warner football program, and both managed and played for the Belmar Merchants of the Jersey Shore Basketball League. Pasciuto moved to Jackson in 1976 where he was a girls’ basketball coach for three years in the Jackson Recreation League. He returned to coaching in Belmar for the boys’ recreation basketball league where he’s been ever since. His long dedication to youth sports dating back to the 1950s was a contributing factor to his induction into the Belmar Recreation Hall of Fame.
The Lakewood BlueClaws have announced their promotional schedule for the upcoming season, which includes five regular season fireworks nights, several entertainers and more than 35 different item giveaways. Fireworks are scheduled for April 26, May 24, June 29, July 27, and Aug. 24. Fireworks also will be held on June 18 for the Coors Light South Atlantic League All-Star Game. Among the entertainers returning to Lakewood are the Philly Phanatic (April 22), the Famous Chicken (June 24), the Zooperstars (May 24), Myron Noodleman (May 24), the Blues Brothers (June 1), Jake the Diamond Dog (July 14) and Reggy (Aug. 26).
Giveaway nights will feature items ranging from car mugs and first-aid kits to team baseball card sets and lunchboxes. On Aug. 23 the first 2,000 fans ages 16 and under will receive a free Jeff Manto Bobblehead doll, courtesy of First Union Bank. Manto, a former major leaguer, will manage the BlueClaws in 2002, having served as the team’s hitting instructor last season.
The following are the results of the Nick "the Quick" Werkman girls’ basketball clinic, held at the McAuliffe School in Jackson on March 7. Jen Szatkowski won the girls’ hotshot contest with 30 points, followed by Annie Orbond (28), Erin Ferro (24), Kristian Wilson (22) and Brittany Ester (20). Szatkowski also won the foul-shooting contest, going 10-10, followed by Orbond (9-10), Ferro (8-10), Wilson (7-10) and Ester (6-10). Szatkowski was named camp MVP.
A women’s softball league is now forming in the Jackson area. Any woman 18 years or older is welcome to participate. Games will be played on local fields in Jackson. For more information, call (732) 408-0036 and leave a message.