The U14 Monroe Thunder girls travel softball team opened its travel season recently by capturing the championship at the East Brunswick Memorial Day Slam tournament on Sunday. The tournament opened on Friday night and Monroe dropped its only game of the weekend to the host East Brunswick Extreme, 6-3. Holding a 3-1 lead with one out in the bottom of the sixth, pitcher Jenna Giaquinto suddenly lost the strike zone and walked the bases loaded. East Brunswick's Maggie McSpadden would make the Thunder pay with a first-pitch grand slam to take the lead they would never give up. Adrianna Lamhing picked up Monroe's only hit in the fourth inning, driving in two runs.

On day two of the tournament Monroe defeated the Greenbrook Challenge, 13-2. Brittany Scott pitched a complete game three-hitter with six strikeouts to earn the victory. Morgan Widener led the offense with two triples and three RBIs. Brianna Davidson was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Caitlyn Silk also knocked in two runs. In game three, Monroe defeated Shore Shock from Ocean County, 16-12. Jillian Hassler held on to pick up the victory despite some shoddy defense behind her. Monroe committed eight errors in the field but battled offensively to earn the victory. Megan Mascali reached base four times and scored four runs. Jenna Giaquinto was 4-for-4 with a triple, two doubles, and scored three runs. Brianna Malvone was 3-for-4 with a double and scored a run. Leah Castrovince also was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Jenny Garavente was 3-for-4 with a double and scored twice.

In the semifinal round, Giaquinto once again would face the host East Brunswick Extreme, and this time she would get her revenge. She tossed a complete game three-hitter with 10 strikeouts, earning an 8-4 victory. Leading 2-1, Monroe broke the game open with a six-run fourth inning. Castrovince knocked in two runs with a single, while also driving in runs in the inning were Giaquinto, Widener, and Malvone.

The championship game would feature Monroe against Greenbrook once again. Scott pitched a complete game two-hitter with six strikeouts to earn the victory. In the third inning Monroe scored its first run with one out. Garavente and Mascali singled, Giaquinto walked to load the bases and Widener followed with a sacrifice fly to right. In the sixth with two outs, Hassler singled to left, Silk reached on an error and Scott knocked in a big insurance run with a double to left. Greenbook went down in order in the seventh and the celebration was on. The Thunder's next tournament will be in two weeks in Florence.

The Monroe Purple 12U travel Baseball team won the 2006 Hillsborough Memorial Day Weekend Tournament. This tournament was won with their bats and arms. Monroe won all of their three pool play games. Monroe beat Jackson in game one on Saturday, 13-1, in five innings. Monroe hit three home runs in this game - two by Nick Dini and one by Ryan Germano. Pitchers were Chris Viani (two innings), Nick Cutrone (two innings) and Ryan Germano (one inning). In game two on Saturday, Monroe beat the Hillsborough Lightning, 13-0, in five innings. Nick Dini hit a home run in this one, while also pitching three innings, with Victor Sorrento going the other two. In game three on Sunday Monroe beat the Brooklyn Bulldogs, 11-2, in six innings. Monroe hit two home runs in this game - one by Nick Dini and one by D.J. Crispino. The pitchers were Robby Darrar (three innings) and Bobby Dudik (three innings). On Monday, Monroe beat Jackson in the championship game, 12-0, in four innings. Monroe scored nine runs in the first inning before even getting an out. Nick Dini pitched four innings of no-hit ball and only walked two batters. This age group has won the Memorial Day Weekend Tournament in Marlboro when they were 9, 10 and 11, and now have won the Hillsborough Memorial Day Weekend Tournament at age 12.

The Monroe Junior Faclcons lacrosse team continues to show improvement every game during its first season. Recently, Monroe held tough in losses to East Brunswick and Old Bridge. Michael Valiant scored Monroe's first-ever goal on a full field clear against East Brunswick. Notable performances were also turned in by Stephen Karoly, Harrison Utter and Nicole LaMacchia. Against Old Bridge, Skyler Izzo provided a sneak peek of things to come to finish a picture perfect four-pass exchange with a goal. Ryan Warren also scored on an end-to-end run. Defensively, Michael Blizniak, Connor Parke, Ava Prohaska and Mike Mischler provided gritty defense.

The Central Jersey Vipers, a 16U girls softball team based out of Old Bridge, took first place in the Pikesville Maryland National Qualifier held on Memorial Day weekend. The CJ Vipers, with a 13-5-3 record, also took first place in the Jackson Spring Run held May 6 and 7. In both victories, the CJ Vipers demonstrated superior pitching, strong defensive play and aggressive hitting and base running. The CJ Vipers will continue tournament and league play throughout the summer.

Former East Brunswick High School boys varsity soccer players are encouraged to participate in a first-ever Alumni Game Saturday evening, June 17, at Dideriksen Park. Proceeds from the game will go to a scholarship in the memory of the late Dan Hayston, EBHS's longtime boys soccer coach, and the boys soccer booster association. Players will begin to gather at 5 p.m., and the alumni games will kick off at 6 p.m. T-shirts will be provided to the alumni players. A donation is requested to support the scholarship fund and booster association. To register or for more information, contact Mark Reiner, (732) 257-1261, or Ron Brandsdorfer, (732) 238-9438, booster association co-presidents; or Terry McKibbin, the EBHS varsity coach, (732) 613-6900.

The Central New Jersey Silver Bullets Wild Mustangs, a U14 girls team in the fall, will hold tryouts on Tuesday, June 13, at East Brunswick Vo-Tech. The school is located at Rues Lane and Summerhill Road, just past Brunswick Square Mall. The fields are in the rear area of the school. Tryouts are 6-8 p.m. Players born between Aug. 1, 1992, and July 31, 1993, are invited to attend. Any girls born between Aug. 1, 1993, and July 31, 1994, are also invited to try out. The team is coached and trained by Corrado Carbone, who holds a National C license. Coach Corrado has coached in various camps, including Pele, Fran Bechenbaur, Georgio Chinaglia, Cosmos, and others. He has also played college Division 1 and in Italy in his 40 years of playing soccer. Corrado can be contacted at Mrcarbone11@hotmail.com or (917) 559-1025 for further information or questions.

Raritan Bay Cougars football and cheerleading registration will be held at the Cheesequake Road field house June 16, 7-9 p.m., and June 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please bring original birth certificate and recent photo of the child. For more details, visit www.raritanbaycougars.org or call (732) 721-4375.