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THE WEEK IN SPORTS Check it out on the Web/ site! www. goleader. com Sports Section Pages 1315

VON LANGEN LASHES GRAND SLAM, SHEA SHAGS WELL

St. Thomas Rolls to Ransack St. Paul Diamond Men, 187

By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

An eightrun first inning concluded by a devastating grand slam homer by power man Derek Von Langen provided enough punch but St. Thomas added plenty more runs to pulverize St. Paul, 187, in St. Bart’s Softball League action at Jerseyland Field in Scotch Plains on June 15. However, St. Paul’s Joe Shea put on a dazzling display at shortstop.

St. Thomas amassed 21 hits in its bombardment led by Mike Rivera who went 4for4 with three RBI and two runs scored while Tom Ulichny led the St. Paul team going 4for4 with two RBI and three runs scored.

The Tom rollers’ eightrun burst began with a seemingly harmless walk to Gerry Reipe. But Tom McGall’s single to right compounded with an error allowed Reipe to score and the roll was on. Mark DeFrancesco lofted an RBI sacrifice fly and Mike Brennan walked. Art Hobble sliced an RBI single to right, Joe Matuska yanked a single to left and Rivera ripped an RBI single to left. John Chupko looped a single to center, then Von Langen launched his grand slammer to remote rightcenter.

Dazed, St. Paul had no response in the top of the second so St. Thomas continued its battery. McGall singled, DeFrancesco walked and Brennan slashed an RBI single. Hobble singled as DeFrancesco and Brennan scored, then Matuska upped the score to 120 with an RBI single.

Shea got St. Paul rolling in the third with a single to left, then a

routine fly to left by Raphael Paul was dropped. Ulichny bopped an RBI single then Tom Engleman drilled a tworun single to left.

Another run was added by St. Paul in the fourth, making the score 124.

Bruce Logan hooked a single to left, Bill Zechman zapped a single to right and Phil Vellucci plopped a

OLYMPIANS DAVIS, MARQUIS PRESENT THE AWARD

Blue Devil Coach Torok Receives Olympian Sportsmanship Award

By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

“Winning isn’t everything” may be only part of a wellknown statement. But that portion was proven on June 14 when Westfield High School swimming/ volleyball coach Bev Torok received the TriStates Olympians 2000 Sportsmanship Award from organization President and former Olympian Otis Davis in Westfield on June 14 (Flag Day). He was joined by former Olympian Gail A. Marquis, President of Ms. World Enterprises, LLC.

The reason was for her courageous decision to decline the state title on a technicality at the New Jersey A Division girls swimming championships back in late February. The Blue Devils lost to Cherry Hill East (CHE), 8684, but could by rule claim victory when several CHE swimmers were listed in the wrong lanes on the

entry cards. The TriStates Olympians 2000 was organized this May and encompasses New Jersey, New York and Connecticut and coach Torok became the first recipient of what will be an annual award.

The inscription on the award read: “This award is presented to you for the courageous and unselfish act of good sportsmanship and fair play that truly represents the highest ideals and spirit of the Olympic Games.”

Davis, who also helps with a skills development program based out of Union City, won Gold Medals in the 400 meters and as a member of the 4x400meter relay team at the Rome Olympics in 1960.

Ironically, Davis did not begin his athletic career in track.

“I was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and attended a segregated school system. But I had my sights

set on college and played basketball at the University of Oregon (195760),” pointed out Davis. “One day, I saw the boys running on the track and I went over and asked the coach if he needed anybody to run on the team. He said, ‘Yes. ’”

Davis continued with a chuckle, “I started in the long jump and added the 100 meters. Then I moved up to the 400 and stopped because the coach said that I was catching up to everybody.”

According to Davis, the coach, Bill Bowerman, just happened to be the inventor of the Nike shoe.

Eventually Davis moved up to the 400 meters in 1959 and the rest became history.

“Some of that success, I want to bring back to the school level,” explained Davis. “Some of the kids I work with are not on the varsity

PINHO, KING, HINGEL TAP 2 HITS EACH; STRUCK SCORES

Atlantics Grab 51 Win Over Resolutes in ‘Nostalgia Ball’

By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

Suddenly, it’s 1864 again! An event near the flagpole at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside on June 17 would have taken observers back in time. Yes, around the time of the Civil War! An 1864 rules “base ball” game between the Elizabeth Resolutes, a team comprised primarily of Westfield and Scotch Plains men, and the Atlantic Base Ball Club (ABBC), a team from Smithtown, New York, resulted in a 51 ABBC victory.

Although the local men outhit the visitors, 128, ABBC managed to make better use of them. Westfield’s Pat King and Steve Hingel and Scotch Plains’ Ray Pinho led the Resolutes with two hits apiece. But ABBC was led by Charlie “Special K” Kouyousmdjian, who thumped a triple, ripped a single and drove in two runs.

Original uniforms, slightly larger and softer base balls, no gloves, bats made of cherry wood, ash and poplar added with the interesting rules set the stage for an air of nostalgia. Different from modern day rules, the 1864 style game featured rules such as: catching a ball on one hop is an out, a foul tip caught on one hop equals an out, all players on base must return to base before being thrown out, a runner can be called

out if he overruns first and is tagged, and if a ball hits fair territory on the first bounce, it is fair even if it spins into foul territory.

The visiting Atlantic came to play and banged out two runs in the top of the first. After Marc Josloff drew a

walk, “Special K” “Klobbered” an RBI triple to remote rightcenter. Then, Mike Cummings brought the “K” man home with an RBI sacrifice to center.

Tom Cutter and Jim Constandi

Blue Devil 4x1M Get 5th at Nationals

The Westfield High School girls 4x1mile relay team of Maura McMahon, Heather Dennis, Alexis Anzelone and Adrianne Blauvelt placed 5th in the National Championships held in Raleigh, North Carolina on June 16. The foursome, in the order listed above, combined for a time of 22: 11.8 and set a new Westfield High School record.

The same fearsome foursome, arranged in a different order of McMahon, Blauvelt, Anzelone and Dennis, then placed 11th in the 4x800meter relay with a time of 9: 40. Their time in the 4x1 mile earned them AllAmerican status.

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SEAN JOFFE… Senior Midfielder of boys lacrosse. Joffe has been selected to the First Team AllArea by the Courier News and received AllArea honors his junior year. Sean finished with 25 goals and 14 assists while producing well in key games. Academically, he is a member of the National Honor Society and represented Westfield at the High School Mathematical contest in modeling 2000. Joffe will attend Bucknell University in the fall.

Westfield High School Viking Babicz Places 11th at MOC

Union Catholic High School freshman Rebecca Babicz qualified for the 800 meters at the Meet of Champions in South Brunswick on June 7 after coming in fourth at the parochial championships. While seeded 26th, her time in the 800 meters was the 11th fastest time overall. Babicz was the 600 meter indoor State Catholic Champion and was on the distance medley team which won at the Union County Relays.

Sports Editor’s Special Note:

Sometimes sports information is not always relayed by schools, coaches, etc. to all of the pertinent newspapers, and such was the case with Rebecca Babicz, who did a fine job in her freshman year. The Union Catholic High School track and field team has made huge progress this past season.

Westfield A. L. Snatches Two From Berkeley Heights Nine

By FRED LECOMTE

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

Westfield and Berkeley Heights American Legion Baseball faced off on June 3 with Westfield winning, 109, in Westfield. The victory came in the bottom of the seventh on singular RBI by Blair Richardson and John Ludman.

Starting Devil pitcher Nick Geissler allowed eight runs, scatted nine hits and walked one. Mark Kolvites came in for relief in the fifth with the score knotted 88, allowed one run while scattering two hits and one walk for the victory.

Westfield then soundly defeated the Heights nine, 112, on June 17 in Berkeley Heights. This time, Geissler scattered four hits, struck out two and walked two for the win.

After the game, Geisler said, “I’m working hard in the off days to improve my various pitches. Today, I was pretty pleased with myself as my breaking ball started to work a little bit better.”

Kolvites entered in the seventh inning and picked up the save. Andrew Gropper took the loss on a great effort, but numerous errors proved too much to overcome.

In game two, Westfield (41), the lone loss coming at the bats of Kenilworth, took command in the bottom of the first, scoring three unearned runs on two hits and four errors. Ryan MacDonald doubled, Mike Duelks walked and Jay Cook singled for the Devils.

The pattern continued in the bottom of the third as Westfield added three more on a single by MacDonald,

a Heights error, a twoRBI double by Cook and a RBI sacrifice bunt Jim McKeon.

Berkeley Heights picked up two runs in the bottom of the inning. Dan Bussiculo singled, Matt Fox was awarded first on an infield miscue then Jason Gudicipietro ripped a single to center to load the bases. Tom Lallis tapped an RBI single and

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David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times AN OLYMPIAN AWARD FOR SPORTSMANSHIP… Flanked by members of the Westfield High School swimming and volleyball teams, Head Coach Bev Torok receives the first TriStates Olympians 2000 Sportsmanship Award from former twotime Olympic Gold Medal winner Otis Davis, right, and former Olympic Silver Medalist Gail A. Marquis, left.

Fred Lecomte for The Westfield Leader and The Times SLIDING SAFELY HOME… David Duelks, No. 22, of the Westfield American Legion slides safely home as Berkeley Heights catcher Steve Lesnowich awaits the throw. DEVIL FEARSOME FOURSOME… Pictured, left to right, are: Westfield Blue

Devils Heather Dennis, Alexis Anzelone, Maura McMahon and Adrianne Blauvelt who placed fifth in the 4x1mile relay at the Nationals held in Raleigh, N. C.

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times VON LANGEN CLOUTS ‘VON’ GRAND SLAMMER… Derek Von Langen of St. Thomas launches a grand slam home run to cap an eightrun first inning against St. Paul at Jerseyland Field.

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times WHOOPS! AT LEAST FOR NOW… Elizabeth Resolute Ray Pinho of Scotch Plains does not do well with this pitch but does end up whacking two singles and an RBI in this 1864 style base ball game.