RUNNING:
The biggest winner in the Highland Park “Run in the Park 5k” (produced by Main Street Highland Park) was the community of Highland Park. Hundreds of people ran, jogged, slogged, walked, and watched/cheered the Sunday, May 3, 2015 event – the 7th annual community race. The total race participation was 512 registrants, a 25 percent increase over last year’s registration.
Everyone smiled as the runners headed downhill towards New Brunswick for the fast first mile, then wound their way through the historic streets of Highland Park before finishing on the high school track. The youngest runners had their own Superheroes Race that commenced as soon as the “big guys” race had concluded.
The top four racers overall were Ezra Chefitz, Edison, 17:37.1; Rufino Mendez, Metuchen, 17:37.8; Zachary Subar, Highland Park, 17:55.7; Ethan Bull, Highland Park, 18:00.7.
For all the race results and winners in the variety of categories, please go to:
SOFTBALL:
With three straight wins over East Brunswick Tech on April 29, Perth Amboy Tech on May 1, and Piscataway Tech on May 4, the Lady Owls improve to 8-5 on the season. Here are the stats on some of your favorite players: In the victory over Piscataway Tech, senior pitcher Zoe Shombert improved to 8-5 with a one-hitter and fanned seven. Zoe went 4-for-4 with four runs scored and five RBIs and is hitting .416 with 19 runs scored and 12 RBI. Senior centerfielder Nautica Dennis went 3-for-3 in the game with two runs scored and two RBI. Nautica is batting .424 with 16 runs scored and nine RBI. Junior first baseman Sydney Mcmanus-Smith went 1-for-2 with two runs scored. Ms. McManus-Smith is batting .428 with 10 runs scored and a team leading 19 RBI. Senior shortstop Carly Aversa went 1-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Carly is batting 333 with 13 runs scored and 12 RBI. Senior third baseman Nyajah Boykins went 3-for-4 with four runs scored and two RBI. Ms. Boykins is batting .333 with 21 runs scored and nine RBI. Hallie Lerner went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBI. Hallie is batting .275 with 12 runs scored and six RBI. In the last game against Piscataway Tech, Ester Adiv collected three hits and scored two runs. On the season Ester has scored 13 runs and driven in four. Catcher Simona Moyal scored two runs, giving her a total of 10 for the season. Mikaela Zorin scored two runs, giving her six on the season. Vimerlis Mendez scored a run, Samantha Marder drove in a run and
Rubiel Rojas went 1-for-2 with a run scored.
BASEBALL:
Highland Park snapped a two-game losing streak with an 8-4 victory over Wardlaw Hartridge at home on Tuesday May 5 to improve to 4-10 on the season. Dylan Powell went 2-for-4 with 3 RBI. Ryan O’Shea went 1-for-2 with a triple, two RBI and three runs scored. Liam Roth went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Sawyer Conrad went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Liam Roth went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Mike Kovalchik singled and pitched four innings of three-hit ball allowing just one run with two strikeouts and two walks. Matt Sussman relieved allowing three runs on four hits in two innings while O’Shea pitched the seventh and struck out two to record the save. Josh Rothberg scored two runs while Sam Murphy scored one. The Owls had previously dropped their last two games against East Brunswick Tech on Wednesday, April 29 and to Perth Amboy Tech on May 1. Here are the updated statistics on your key players. Mr. Kovalchik is hitting .439 with 10 runs scored and eight RBI. On the mound he has a 2-4 record with 17 earned runs, nine walks and 52 strikeouts. Mr. O’Shea is batting .465 with 11 runs scored and nine RBI. On the mound, Ryan has a 1-3 record. Jose Ruiz is batting .217 with eight runs scored and two RBI. Mr. Powell is batting .238 with five runs scored and six RBI. Mr. Roth is batting .285 with six runs scored and four RBI. Mr. Rothberg has five runs scored and two RBI. Mr. Murphy has six runs scored and four RBI. Evan Lanaris is batting .205 with seven runs scored and six RBI. Mr. Conrad is batting .305 with four runs scored and eight RBI. Mr. Sussman has a 1-3 record. In 36 innings pitched, 26 hits, 19 earned runs with 15 walks and 21 strikeouts.
TENNIS:
The Owls have won six of their last seven matches to improve to 7-4 on the season. The six game win streak was snapped on Monday, May 4 in a 4-1 defeat at Monroe. Do you like bagels? What about double bagels, a terminology used in tennis to describe someone winning a match in consecutive sets without losing one game? In four straight victories over South Plainfield, Colonia, Metuchen and on Friday, a 3-2 victory over Wardlaw, senior Maverick Lin savored his appetite with 6-0, 6-0 wins. He had another 6-0, 6-0 win on Monday, the only match won by the Owls against Monroe. After reading this doesn’t that make you feel hungry. I am. The Owls are the second seed in the Central Jersey Group I tennis tournament. On Tuesday May 12 at 4 p.m. at Donaldson Park, Highland Park will play the winner of #7 South Amboy against #10 Point Pleasant Beach in the second round of the tournament. Till next week, stay active, read Princz’s Perspective and check out the Highland Park Planet at www.highlandparkplanet.com