The U12 East Brunswick Giants boys travel soccer team and their parents had a busy weekend. On Saturday the team celebrated its championship indoor season at Good Sports in Wall Township. The boys challenged their parents to a game. To their surprise, they did not slaughter the parents as they all thought they would. The game was a close and exciting battle. The score ended up a 7-7 tie, and the outcome had to be decided by a penalty shoot-out. The parents prevailed as the "old" legs showed their finesse and accuracy during the penalty shoot-out. The parents did have a "ringer" or two, as they enjoyed the help of Chris Hajar, a varsity East Brunswick High School player. Also the youthful legs of Adrian Koch, one of the players' uncles, was a big help. He scored three goals, as did coach Jared Kellner. Sia Shalikar was steady in goal even though he gave up seven. The boys goals were scored by John Loubnan (2), Joe Hartman, Coby Kellner (2), Matt Roche and Rob Shalikar.

On Sunday, the Giants took on their rivals from South Brunswick. The first half was tight but East Brunswick took the lead of a corner kick by Joe Hartman. The ball was played to Rob Shalikar, who the passed it to John Loubnan for a header over the South Brunswick goalie. The score was 1-0 at the end of the first half. The Giants took advantage of another corner kick early in the second half as Matt Roche hit Abanoub Bestawros with a pass, and Bestawros snuck the ball on the ground past the opponent's goalie. Loubnan again used his heading skills as he scored on a beautiful diving header on passes from Joe Ross and Coby Kellner. Justin Rosa scored unassisted on a nice shot from about 25 yards out that found the upper left corner. The Giants' goalie, Wojtek Koch, showed great reaction speed, as he stopped two point-blank shots in the last minute to preserve the shutout. The parents of the Giants mostly sat in their chairs and nursed their sore muscles, aches and pains. Good thing they didn't have to play another game that day.

The Giants are 2-0-1 now as they tied a stubborn team from Scotch-Plains a week earlier.

The Monroe Blast 12U 50/70 team won their first game against an experienced Jackson Hurricanes team on Sunday. The Monroe Blast won the game, 8-7, at the Jackson Justice Complex. This is the first game that the Monroe Blast has ever played on a 50/70 field. The Monroe Blast beat a Jackson team, which has played 50/70 in the spring of 2005 and in the fall of 2005. Nick Dini pitched one inning with two strikeouts and two runs. Robby Darrar pitched two innings with two Ks and five runs. Ryan Germano and Robby Darrar split the catching duties and did a fantastic job. Between both catchers they only allowed two stolen bases all game. Victor Sorrento pitched three innings with 3 Ks and no earned runs. The Blast played solid defense with only three errors in the whole game. The team had no balks through six innings of play in their first experience on a 50/70 field and no pick-offs on any base. The Monroe Blast coaches are Bob Dudik, Gary Cushman, Dan Laino and Andrew Tagliaferro. Their next game is on Sunday at Marlboro starting at 9 a.m. The Monroe Blast plays in the USABL league in the toughest division in the 12U 50/70 group. There are a total of 31 teams in the 12U 50/70 league. They will play all of the top teams throughout New Jersey through June.

The Monroe Township Baseball Association will hold its annual opening Day Parade Saturday for all MTBA players, ages 4 to 8, in the Buddy Ball (Tee-ball), Farm Rookie, and Farm AAA divisions. Lineup begins at Woodland School at 8:15 a.m., and the march begins at 8:45 a.m. across Spotswood Englishtown Road to Monmouth Road, and south to the Community Center. Mayor Richard Pucci and Councilwoman Joanne Connolly are expected to throw out the ceremonial first pitches at the Rec Center. A raffle will be held for a grand-prize foursome for Golf at Forsgate's Palmer Course, second prize will be four loge box seats with Stadium Club Passes for a Yankees home game this season, and third prize will be four tickets to see the Lakewood BlueClaws at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood. Games begin at James Monroe Park, Thompson Park, and at Daniel Ryan Field following the ceremony, and will continue throughout the day.

The East Brunswick Baseball League will host a free Pepsi Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit and Run Competition for area youth on April 22 at 10:30 a.m. at the East Brunswick Baseball Complex on Dunhams Corner Road. The grassroots program is designed to provide youngsters with an opportunity to compete, free of charge, in a competition that recognizes individual excellence in core baseball skills. Competitors are divided into four age divisions - 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14 - and have the chance to advance through four levels of competition, including team championships at major league ballparks and the national finals at the 2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

Birth certificates are required at registration. Boys and girls will compete together in each respective age group. The individual pitching, hitting and running champions, along with the all-around champion, in each age group at the local competition will be awarded and advance to the sectional level of competition. All participants must fill out a registration/waiver form prior to the start of the competition. For questions concerning the competition, contact Tom Duimstra at pmr_ebbl@comcast.net.