The UFA 40 played at Patriots Park in Jackson on Sunday morning, and by the time the game got under way at 9.15 am the temperatures were already into the 80s and climbing.
It was going to be a long, hot and sticky morning.
Against a strong Jackson squad, and against the run of play, UFA took an early lead. Dan Caruso broke into the box on the left-hand side and fired a shot across goal that beat the keeper and was then slammed into the top of the net by one of the Jackson defenders. He had come charging across the area to help out, only to have the ball hit him at full speed and rocket into the net. Own goal. Unfortunately, just a few minutes later, the same defender would put the ball past his goalkeeper for another own goal after the ball took a wicked hop on a simple back pass — making it 2-0 UFA. Jackson eventually got themselves sorted out and began to apply pressure. Didier Mory, filling in in goal for UFA 40 once again, was kept very busy and pulled off a string of fine saves. The home team press would pay dividends, as Jackson got two quick goals just before the half, sending the teams in for the break tied at 2-2.
The second half resumed with Jackson continuing where they left off, and after a series of nice one-touch passes, they got the go-ahead goal on the 60th minute mark. At this point, following a couple of bad fouls, and rising tempers along with temperatures, two players were shown the red card by referee Peter Elz, who took control of the situation immediately, and restored order to the game. Play resumed with both teams a man down. Amaro Pereira pushed up into the midfield slot, helping to apply pressure, and came close on several occasions with long range shots. With only three men at the back, sweeper Alan Nicholls was kept busy holding off the now tiring Jackson team. With just 10 minutes to go he put a ball out to the left wing where Scott Perritt collected it, beat his man and fired a pass into the box for the oncoming Larry Kaplan to force home for the equalizing goal.
That’s how the score remained, a good result for a depleted UFA squad, in pretty trying conditions. Next Sunday, Father’s Day, in the penultimate game of the season, UFA 40 are at home to a team from Holmdel.
Allentown’s Mick Search made it stick in the caution-free Super Stock event to claim his first career win at New Egypt Speedway on Saturday. Search held off 2000 division champ Billy Bauer, Jon Hewitt, Al Cheney III and George Quinlan to get the job done.
Seventeen-year-old Rob Nixon of Cream Ridge, became the fourth different winner in the Advantage Financial/Cradle Rock Developers Rookie Sportsman Series. The win put Nixon within six points of new series leader Jeff McCaughey. Randy Yaple, Ben Donaruma, Mike Taylor and Will Dupree finished second through fifth in the race.
Allentown High School is looking for a JV and freshman assistant field hockey coach, and an assistant football coach for this fall season. A minimum of 60 college credits is needed to qualify or a NJ teaching certificate. If interested, call Brian Irwin, athletic director, at (609) 259-2160 ext. 407, or e-mail [email protected].
Mike DeJesus, the former Manalapan High School star, was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 15th round of the annual Major League Baseball Amateur draft. DeJesus just completed his junior year at Coast Carolina University.
DeJesus is coming off a big year at Coastal Carolina, where he batted .346 with a .527 slugging percentage and nine home runs. He set a school record for RBIs in a season with 72. He made the All-Conference Team and led Coastal Carolina into the NCAA Regional in Tempe, Ariz. Coastal lost in the title game to host Arizona State University. DeJesus made the All-Region Tournament Team after batting .400 (6-for-15). He hit one home run, one triple, scored five runs and had five RBIs.
DeJesus’ brother David DeJesus is currently the center fielder for the Kansas City Royals.
Freehold Township Parks and Recreation is offering a number of leagues and sports camps that are open to both residents and nonresidents this summer. The leagues are boys and girls lacrosse (fourth through 12th grade) and boys and girls basketball (fourth through 12th grade). The camps are for basketball, field hockey, track and field, roller hockey, softball and lacrosse. In addition, there is a youth running/fitness program for ages 10-17 and tennis lessons for ages 4 through adult. For more information on the leagues or camps, call (732) 294-2190.
Jason Faigin’s 2005 Summer Baseball/Softball Academy at the Marlboro Little League Complex will be held over three sessions in July (6-8, 11-15 and 18-22). Sessions run from 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. The goal for Faigin, a former professional baseball player who played in the New York Yankees organization, and his staff of former professional and college players and coaches is to help each player improve their baseball skills and understand the game better. They will stress the fundamentals in pitching, hitting and defense.
For more information, call (732) 866-9367 or go to [email protected].