Sports Shorts

After being denied a state championship in the spring/summer session, the Brick Titans 8-year-old baseball team got the coveted United States Amateur Baseball League title during the fall season with a 7-5 victory over Colts Neck.

Tom Zbranak hit a squibber in front of the mound that drove in runners from second and third in the fifth inning for a 5-4 lead and the Titans tacked on two insurance runs in the sixth that was enough for winner Dan Berg, who closed out with three shutout innings of starter Kevin Higgins and short reliever James Fata. Berg, Fata, Danny Finnelli and Chad Leonard also hit well for the Titans, who trailed early and fell behind, 4-3, in the third inning.

"In the spring, we lost to Staten Island, N.Y., 6-4, in the final, and the kids were brokenhearted and determined not to let that happen again. We came together well," said manager Domenick Brando.

Registration for the spring season will be held on Dec. 14-15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Copa Room of the Civic Center on Chambers Bridge Road.

There will be a coach/pitch team for 6-7-year-olds and a travel team for 8-11-year-olds. Call (732) 262-7922 for details.