Tag: Jim Hague

Tim Rodriguez had high hopes that this would be a special season for the Marist High School baseball team. After all, Rodriguez had paid his dues for three years, watching the Royal Knights continue to improve during that time. As a senior shortstop, Rodriguez believed that he would save his best for last. “I definitely …

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It all began innocently about 16 years ago or so, when a quartet of talented Jersey City youth baseball players were brought together to play on the same baseball team. Back then, there was a local team called the Jersey City Stars of Tomorrow, a program run by dedicated people like Harvey Zucker and the …

Continue reading “SCOREBOARDA special coaching bond, formed from being teammates

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The fate of the state championship that the North Bergen High School football team won last December was in the hands of 24 coaches, athletic directors and school administrators in Robbinsville on Wednesday morning, but the architect of that team, Vince Ascolese, was 100 miles away, busy receiving chemotherapy treatments as he continues his fight …

Continue reading “TASTY TIDBITSNorth Bergen stripped of state football title by NJSIAA

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When Dashawn Putman entered St. Peter’s Prep a little more than three years ago, he wanted to become a football star. “I was a wide receiver,” Putman said. However, there was always another side to him. “When I was little, I used to jump around the house and everything,” Putman said. “It used to drive …

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The cell phone rang unexpectedly in early March and the caller ID information, somehow eliminated after a hospital stay in early February, didn’t reveal who was on the other end. “Mr. Hague? It’s me, Jason Bush,” the caller said. “I just wanted to thank you for all the things you did for me. When you …

Continue reading “SCOREBOARDFormer Ferris hoop standout Bush gone too soon

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A week after winning the Ed Ford Memorial Hudson County Baseball Tournament, the Marist Royal Knights are now the last local baseball or softball team still alive in the NJSIAA state playoffs. One by one, the mighty fell in the state tournament. It’s a one-and-done mentality in the state playoffs. Lose and you go home …

Continue reading “TASTY TIDBITSMarist remains as last local team still standing

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Morgan Spann never even gave track and field a thought before she enrolled at McNair Academic High School in Jersey City a little more than three years ago. “I just wanted to go out for a sport,” Spann said. “I liked running, so I decided to try track.” Little did Spann know that she would …

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It’s funny how the game of softball works some times. A year ago, North Bergen’s softball team was clearly the best team in Hudson County. It was the Bruins and then the rest. The Bruins steamrolled through the regular season. They owned a veteran lineup and had the best player in the county. It was …

Continue reading “SCOREBOARDRedemption comes a year later for upstart Bruins

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Although she’s one of the best all-around track and field athletes in Hudson County, Sarah Sisk has never had the chance to concentrate solely on her athleticism. “In my household, academics always came first,” said Sisk, who stands a chance to be the St. Dominic Academy Class of 2012 valedictorian in a week or so. …

Continue reading “TASTY TIDBITSTop scholar-athletes honored by NJSIAA

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Marist head baseball coach Ron Hayward vividly recalled his lone chance of winning a Hudson County championship. It was 1998 and Hayward was a senior at Marist. “We lost to Memorial in the final,” Hayward said. “I never got another chance to win one.” Hayward took over the head coaching duties at his alma mater …

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