SJ Sports: Inside Mt. Laurel Sports

Leveling the Ice
The Jaguars Ice Hockey team has given their parents and the community reason to be proud. These boys, age 16 and under, take time to help raise funds for those hockey players who are much less fortunate than they are. With the Jaguars assistance, handicapped children, aided by small sled and propeller-like hockey sticks, are able to take to the ice and have some fun.

Are they good? You bet. Will they make it to the NHL? Not quite. Then again, neither will most of the completely healthy kids, but they do get the reward of being blessed with good health and the ability to reach out and help those who are not so healthy.

“Our goal is to help these kids participate and to feel part of something,” said Tom Brake, of Clementon, president of the sled hockey organization.

Parents of able-bodied athletes and young athletes like the members of the Jaguars have turned a special idea into a family affair. The Jaguars spend time off the ice helping out, selling items, manning tables whatever they can do to make people aware.

While too many pro athletes with the means to help often fall short as community members, these young kids are paving the way. There is no more taking for granted, no more thinking “it’s all about me.”

Imagine the scene when the able-bodied players caught their first glimpse of the sled hockey players doing their thing. “I think it made them really stop and think,” said Nancy Davis, one of the organizers. “It was really moving to see the boys banging the glass as salute to the efforts of the sledders.”

The hope is that more players will hear about this phenomena and want to participate. And that that hope extends to companies which would offer support to help buy the $600 sleds for each child. These parents have enough heartache in their lives, they don’t need to worry about raising the funds for this lighthearted game.

Second Time Around
In the year of Y2K a group of 12-year-old boys headed to Cooperstown Baseball World to play in a tournament using facilities at the State University of New York, Oneonta campus. They had played baseball against teams from Canada, Florida, Illinois and more. The competition was fierce but the boys played to a 6-3 record and had the experience of being away from home, living in college dorms and playing nine games in less than a week. It was, in fact, so great an experience, that they wanted to go again if the opportunity arose.

Well, the boys played American Legion Baseball the next year with just a mediocre record. The idea of going back to Cooperstown was dampened by a .500 season.

The question popped up again in the beginning of 2002. While not the exact bunch of players, enough enthusiasm was present in those left to start the coaches thinking. Would the boys have another great experience or just tarnish the memories of the first trip, and would the boys have the ability to compete on a national level?

The American Legion season showed at times great potential and at others only average play. Finishing with a 17-9 record it was decided that the boys had put forth the effort as asked, so off to Cooperstown they went. Fun was foremost on the coaches minds. The boys planned on winning.

Day One, the boys competed in a college-type tryout. Speed, throwing accuracy, and position play were all tested against all of the other teams present. In the outfield throwing event, Mt. Laurel’s second baseman Jeff Doulong took first, and Mike Schwartz and Keith Carman tied for second. Mat Taigwad, Gary Der Hagopian and Mike Schwartz competed in the home run derby and showed well.

Day Two featured an 8am game with an afternoon game to follow. They won the first matchup, but were then handed a 6-1 loss by South Shore.

The next day brought a 10-0 win in the morning. In the next game, another meeting with South Shore, Mt. Laurel played to an eleven inning, 3-2 loss. A more defensive ball game could not have been played.

Game 5 was an 11-10 win for Mt. Laurel, putting it in a good position for the seeding of the single elimination tournament. If they made it past the first round, they would face their newfound nemesis, South Shore.

In the next game, Game 1 of the single elimination tournament, Mt. Laurel was behind in the bottom of the sixth inning by two runs (6-4), one out. Jeff Doulong hit a one-bagger up the middle to start the ball rolling. Keith Carman, plagued all week by a pulled back muscle, managed to get on base with a well-placed bunt down the third base line. Matt Tiagwad singled to left. Bases were now loaded with one out.

A new lefty pitcher was brought in. Reports had this pitcher showcasing a great pick-off move to first; the base runners were warned. Gary Der Hagopian flied to right, but the fielder committed an error, one run scored. The fielder recovered and Tiagwad was out at second. Down by one run with two outs, there was a man on first and third. The pitcher worked on Der Hagopian with his pick off move. Batter Mike Schwartz was working the pitcher as well and had a 1-1 count.

On third, Carman saw that the pitcher was looking only at first and home. He asked the coach for the green light and he got the nod. Carman pulled a dead steal of home, beating the throw easily while Der Hagopian advanced to second. It was a tie game with two outs and a man on second. An outfield hit down the right foul line by Schwartz moved the runners, and gave Mt. Laurel a hard-fought 7-6 win.

Time to face South Shore again. Without anywhere as much glamour as the last time the two met, Mt. Laurel suffered a 7-3 loss.

Mt. Laurel had to settle for third place, ending the series with an 8-7 win, taking the hardware home. Only goes to show, if given the opportunity, players can rise to the competition.

Content provided by South Jersey Sports Club.

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Author: SJ Sports Club-J.T. Marcellus & Steve Schwartz