Making The Team – Hometown View

A little of this and a little of that on a day in which we are expected to top 70 degrees.

Yes the weather continues to confound us and if the extended 10-day forecast is correct you better get your spring clothes out early. I remember many a cold and raw March day but it looks like most of the next week or two will find us in the 60’s. Who could complain?

Heading to Arizona last month Todd Frazier knew that he needed a strong spring training to earn a spot on the Cincinnati Reds roster and the 26-year old former Toms River High School South and Rutgers University standout is doing just that.

Frazier hit his team-leading third home run in just 19 at-bats yesterday and is batting .263 with 5 RBI’s and a team-leading 8 runs scored. The Reds have played him at several positions and as long as he hits Todd should be in Cincinnati on opening day.

During a good portion of his 21 years as the head football coach at Howell High School, Cory Davies did not have much success. There were a couple of good years early and then plenty of losing seasons but beginning in 2005 the Rebels would go on a run that would result in Howell becoming one of the shore’s elite programs. Davies announced Monday that he is stepping down, saying it’s just time for someone else to take over the program. Cory was one of the best guys to work with, always cooperative and fair and I’ll miss him on the sidelines.

The NJSIAA Girls Tournament of Champions begins tonight at the Pine Belt Arena in Toms River. The event brings together the six state champions and when it’s over there will be one queen of girl’s hoops in New Jersey. Tonight at 6pm it will be Jackson Memorial taking on Gill St. Bernard and following that Manasquan meets Cedar Creek. Top-seeds Shabazz and St. Rose drew opening round byes.

A reminder that this Sunday there will be a fundraiser for Sean Martyn at Leggett’s in Manasquan from 2-6pm. The 18-year old from Brick is battling a rare form of pediatric cancer for the second time and the fundraiser will help his family with the financial burden they are facing. Tickets are $25 at the door and donations can also be made at seanmartynfund.org