Sports Shorts

The Jackson Diamonds Fastpitch 12U softball is holding tryouts for the upcoming season. Tryouts will be held on Saturday mornings until Feb. 25. Open roster spots are limited and winter training is under way. Anyone serious about playing competitive softball this season, contact teaminfo@jackson-softball.org or call (732) 928-7372 to set up a private tryout.

The Brick Township Junior Sports League will once again award the Anthony F. Mancino Memorial Scholarship to Brick Township High School football players who will graduate in 2006, based upon academics and need. Tony was a football player on three Brick Township state championship teams in the 1960s. He was an avid Brick football sponsor and supporter and dedicated most of his life to youth sports in Brick, especially in baseball and football.

Applications are now available at the Brick Township High School guidance/student services office and are due April 1. More than one scholarship will be awarded.

The Jersey Shore Giants Baseball, an established traveling team in the USABL, is currently holding indoor tryouts for 10- and 11-year-olds at Double Play Recreation in Ocean Township at 12:30 p.m. every Sunday through Feb. 26. The Giants play in the spring and fall, and play does not conflict with Little League. Call manager Jeff Mende at (732) 259-0761 or e-mail jmende@optonline.net for more information.

Sophomore Lauren Prindiville, of Brick Memorial, set a school record in the breaststroke and swam on the school record-setting, 200-freestyle relay in the Shore Conference swim championships at the Ocean County YMCA over the weekend.

Prindiville swam a 1:18.14 in the 100-yard breaststroke, beating the old record by 37 seconds. She also swam the third leg on the 200-free relay that reset its own school record of 1:54.51.

Senior Erica Picatagi led off, and sophomore Demi Dooros was on the second leg, while senior Samantha Wieboldt anchored the team. All four also swam on the medley relay that clocked a fine 2:09.29 time with the same four swimmers, just .13 off their own school record.

All of those times fell just short of placing at the meet.

Zack Lowenstein, of Brick Township, the brightest prospect for the boys qualifiers from the township, did not compete in the 100 free and individual medley because he had the flu. He’ll swim those same events in the NJSIAA championships on March 3-4 at Gloucester Tech.

The Ocean County College women’s soccer team had a memorable 2005 season. The Vikings compiled a record of 11-3 and won both the Garden State Athletic Conference and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XIX Championship. Maggie Chussler, of Brick, was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America team. On the season she had 24 goals with five assists to lead the team with 53 points. She was also named to the NJCAA All-Region and All-Garden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) team. In addition, Chussler was National Player of the Week in September 2005 for her outstanding leadership and play. She will continue her education and career next year at The College of New Jersey, majoring in Education.

Her teammate, Katie Sossville, also of Brick, was named to the Region XIX All-Academic Team, as was Brick’s Tim LaBarre, a member of the OCC men’s soccer team.

The Jersey Yankees, a USABL travel baseball team for 8- and 9-year-old boys, is looking for players. The Yankees play on Sundays from April through July, so as not to interfere with Little League play. There is a $100 registration fee, but no work bond in necessary. The Yankees will be holding a tryout on Feb. 18 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at Hit Dogs in Toms River (an indoor facility). Please call Nicole of Carmine Pellone at (908) 907-3299 to reserve a tryout.