Manager Provides Special Lift for Baseball Team

Jack Esposito inspires Panthers to be the best.

Bridgewater-Raritan High School student Jack Esposito has been a fixture on the baseball team for three years—and he brings luck to the boys each year. Esposito, who has fragile-X syndrome, is the manager of the team, and serves as the bat boy. He is at every game, and provides support to his teammates. Esposito has also competed in the Special Olympics for the past two years. Members of the team said they enjoy having Esposito on the team, and feel like something is missing when he is not with the team.

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Today's Athletes, Tomorrow's Stars

Fitzsimmons Fantastic in Final Year at TCNJ

Lauren Fitzsimmons has finished an award-worthy softball career.

For a pitcher who was fifth entering the pitching hierarchy her freshman season, senior Lauren Fitzsimmons has come a long way in her record-setting and productive softball career at The College of New Jersey. With her collegiate career nearing its completion, the 2008 Bridgewater-Raritan High School graduate has been a success in the classroom and on the diamond. Fitzsimmons finished the season with a 18-7 record and 1.64 earned runs average. In addition, Fitzsimmons recorded 144 strikeouts en route to a school best career mark of 469, and pitched a no-hitter—the third of her career—in the team’s 3-0 victory over Kean University in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament. Even though they lost their next game, a 1-0 decision to …

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Students Score Big in Tae Kwon Do Competition

A Bridgewater school participates in a championship at Ridge High School.

Students from Ahn's TaeKwonDo School of Bridgewater and Montgomery participated in a championship competition April 29, and took home a total of 43 gold medals, 18 silver medals and 14 bronze medals. The 37 students participated in the 2012 Big East TaeKwonDo Championship at Ridge High School in Basking Ridge. Students ages 5 to 44 competed in the all-day event in almost every age category and belt level.   The competing students live in Princeton, Montgomery, Hillsborough, Raritan and Bridgewater. Results from students at the Bridgewater school were: Name Age Belt Form Breaking Prathamesh Trivedi 6 Green Gold Silver Nihal Singh 7 Yellow Gold Silver Roni Mostafa 7 Green Bronze Silver Shalinka Gunatilaka 8 Red Silver Bronze Steven Hoang 10 …

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VIDEO: Panthers Youth Stengthens Baseball Team

Limited varsity experience doesn't stop Panthers from success.

Although the 2012 Bridgewater-Raritan High School baseball team has limited varsity experience, the team is not letting it stop a solid season.  Returning only three varsity players from the 2011 team, the Panthers have a group loaded with underclassmen ready to step up and perform.  Heading into the Somerset County tournament semi-finals Saturday at TD Bank Ballpark, the Panthers boast a 7-1 winning streak that comes at the right time of the season.  Now 11-8, Bridgewater seems destined for some post-season play this year, and a future with seasoned varsity players.

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Lacrosse Coach Reaches Milestone 400th Win

Bridgewater-Raritan lacrosse coach Chuck Apel talks about the season and what's ahead.

Bridgewater-Raritan High School lacrosse head coach Chuck Apel celebrated his 400th victory this season, and, by the way the season is going, he will be adding many more before 2012 is over. The Panthers, who remain unbeaten at 11-0, are the top seed for the Somerset County Tournament, which begins Wednesday.

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Pro Sports Stars Play in Charity Golf Tourney

Shaun O'Hara, Gary Sheffield, Tommy John, Goose Gossage and Sal Paolantonio among the players.

The Neshanic Valley Golf Course hosted the Raymond L. Hughes Memorial Pro-Celebrity Golf Tournament Monday. The event has raised nearly $1 million for the Somerset County Park Foundation, and it supports Parks Commission programs. Among the players were Somerset Patriots Manager Sparky Lyle, Hillsborough High grad and former N.Y. Giant Shaun O'Hara, Hillsborough High grad and former New England Patriot Shawn Mayer, Bridgewater-Raritan High School grad and former Providence College basketball star Eric Murdock, Watchung Hills grad and former N.Y. Giant Bill Ard and Parsippany High School grad and former Yankees pitcher Paul Mirabella.

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Lacrosse Teams Compete in Memory of Former Player

Area youth teams play in 7th annual BTO Lacrosse Classic for Bryan's Dream Foundation.

The Somerset Hills Lacrosse Club hosted its seventh annual charity BTO Lacrosse Classic for Bryan’s Dream Foundation on Friday at Mountain Park. The eighth-grade teams from the Somerset Hills Lacrosse Club and from the surrounding area, including Branchburg, Bridgewater, Chester/Mendham, Florham Park, The Hills, Hillsborough and Ridge Youth Lacrosse competed to raise money for the foundation. Bryan Opremcak was a Bernards Township seventh-grader, who died from a brain tumor in January 2006. Opremcak played for the Somerset Hills Lacrosse Club even after being initially diagnosed and treated for a brain tumor in 2004.  The event was initially the idea of Opremcak's teammates who wanted to honor his memory and helped organized the first …

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12U Baseball Holding Tournament 5K Fundraiser

Bridgewater Baseball holding a fundraiser to go to Cooperstown, New York.

Bridgewater Baseball is looking ahead to a successful season and a trip to Cooperstown, New York for a tournament—and all they are asking for is a little support. On Sunday, the Bridgewater Baseball 12U team will be hosting a Strive for 5K race at the Prince Rodgers Complex on Prince Rodgers Avenue. The event is also being coordinated with the Mayors Wellness Campaign, and this is the fifth year of the fundraiser. Normally, according to coordinator Antie Celli, the fundraiser sees about 150 runners, but there are only about 25 people currently signed up. "We need to get the word out for additional runners," she said. The race begins at 9 a.m., and there will be an awards ceremony at the conclusion. The cost of competing is $25 on the day …

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Patriots Prepare for Season of Milestones

TD Bank Ballpark offers baseball and family entertainment.

They are beginning their 15th season, planning to honor the 5 millionth fan and preparing for the 1,000th win—and for the Somerset Patriots, it’s just an exciting time to play some baseball. “We are excited about upgrades, and the goal is to make the park better than when it opened,” said Patrick McVerry, Patriots general manager and president. With opening day Thursday, the Patriots, with their stadium on East Main Street in Bridgewater, are preparing for a season that will hopefully include their sixth Atlantic League Championship. “The hitters are ahead of where we thought they would be,” said Patriots manager Sparky Lyle. “But it is not easy to bring on 20 new players. We look pretty good considering we only brought five back.” …

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