A Throwback Earth Day

Today is Earth Day which will be completely ignored by most and maybe does not quite carry the significance it did when first celebrated in 1970.  It does bring back fond memories of what some of us did to mark the occasion while students at Central Regional High School in the early 70’s. 

Looking to make a statement about “Mother Earth” but really looking to have a good time somewhere between 10-20 of us (I really don’t remember the number) rode our bicycles from Seaside to the high school in Bayville.  Our group from Seaside Heights, Seaside Park and Pelican Island crossed the bridge, rode down Route 37, stopped at Huddy Park in downtown Toms River, headed south on Route 166 before peddling down Surf Avenue in Beachwood and arriving at Central.

At that time we were on split sessions and the home room bell rung shortly after 7am so clearly we were late. As a matter of fact we might have arrived just before the morning session ended.  While we insisted our ride was one to benefit the environment I know it was not well received by the administration but we did do it again the following year.  I really don’t remember if we got in any trouble but listen that was the 70’s, a very different time.  Or as we parents say today “do what I say, not what I did.”

The Toms River East baseball team took over the top spot in our Shore Sports Network Top 10 this week and in their first game as number one fell to rival Toms River South 2-1 under the lights at Ken Frank Stadium last night.  The Indians won it in dramatic fashion as Christian Campbell stole home in the bottom of the 7^th inning to knock the Raiders out of a first-place tie with Jackson in the highly-competitive Class A South race.

Trevor Wagner & Ray Liguori combined to outduel CJ Hirschy and the South defense came up big as they threw three Raider runners out at home plate.

Central Regional’s Andrew DiPiazza is best known for his right arm but Monday used his bat to power the Golden Eagles past Point Boro 13-2.  The University of Alabama pitching recruit drove in five runs with a double and grand slam.

A couple of other baseball notes: Jackson Liberty won its fifth in-a-row by topping Pinelands 7-5 and surging Barnegat crushed Manchester 13-3 as sophomore Jared Kasco homered and allowed just one earned run.