Bennett Jackson Staying Committed to Notre Dame

Raritan senior wideout Bennett Jackson, who has verbally committed to Notre Dame, does not plan on breaking his commitment to the Fighting Irish after the firing of head coach Charlie Weis on Monday.

“It doesn’t really change my mind,” Jackson said. “I wasn’t a fan of him getting fired, but I picked Notre Dame for the atmosphere, the players and the education, so I’m not going to change my commitment.”

Jackson’s main fear is that the new coaching staff that comes in may not have Jackson in its plans, forcing him to scramble for another school.

“I’m more worried about if the new coaches there would like me,” he said. “I’ll wait to find out who the new coaches are and maybe take a visit.”

Also, Jackson, who played basketball for his first three years at Raritan, will be participating in indoor track during this winter season.

Dates and Times for Central Jersey Finals

The NJSIAA has posted the sites and times for the sectional finals.

Here are the dates and times for the Central Jersey finals, in which Shore Conference teams will be represented in all of them.

Central Jersey Group I

(3) Highland Park vs. (1) Asbury Park is on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 11 a.m. at Kean University.

Central Jersey Group II

(3) Manasquan vs. (1) Matawan is Friday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. at The College of New Jersey.

Central Jersey Group III

(2) Monroe vs. (1) Middletown South, Dec. 5 at 11 a.m. at TCNJ.

Central Jersey Group IV

(6) Brick Memorial vs. (4) East Brunswick, Dec. 5 at 3 p.m. at TCNJ.

Thursday Night Football Show

Here is the lineup for tonight’s Thursday High School Football show on 1160 WOBM am, Fox Sports 1310 a.m. and streamed live on the Internet at www.shoresportsnetwork.com. You can also stop by and watch it live at Boston’s Restaurant and Sports Bar on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River from 6-8 p.m. Warren Wolf will be in the house and Temple coach Al Golden, a Red Bank Catholic graduate who is becoming one of the hottest coaching candidates in the country, will be on the phone so it will be a great show.

6:05-6:15  Opening Monologue and Review of past weekend

COMMERCIAL BREAK

6:18-6:28  Steve Falk, AP Press

COMMERCIAL BREAK

6:30-6:50  Warren Wolf, former Brick coach  (location)

COMMERCIAL BREAK

6:52-7PM

——————————————————————————-

7:04-7:15  Scott Stump, All Shore Media

COMMERCIAL BREAK

7:18-7:28  Al Golden, Temple Univ. Head Coach (phone)

• COMMERCIAL BREAK

7:40-7:50  Hawk Report with Kevin Callahan (phone)

COMMERCIAL BREAK

7:52-8pm  Football Picks & Close

 

 

Baseball: TR South’s Kapp, McGee Make College Commitments

From Toms River South baseball assistant Mitch Powitz:

Toms River South baseball announces that two seniors – Andrew McGee and Tyler Kapp – have signed letter of intents to play NCAA Division I baseball in New Jersey. McGee, a 6-foot-2, 200 lb. senior pitcher/designated hitter, has signed a letter of intent to attend Monmouth University. Kapp, a 6-foot-7, 210 lb. senior outfielder/pitcher/first baseman, has signed a letter of intent to attend New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).

McGee had a tremendous season for the 22-7 Indians last year as he went 6-3 with a 2.64 ERA and struck out 85 batters in 61 innings. He only allowed seven walks and 54 hits. McGee, who had four shutouts, recorded wins over St. Joe’s of Montvale, Egg Harbor Township, Southern, Henry Hudson, Lacey and St. Mary of Ryken, Md. Highlights
included a shutout win over Egg Habor in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group IV preliminaries, a one-hitter against state power St. Joe’s of Montvale in the Shore Challenge and a no-hitter again St. Mary. His three losses came at the hands of Jackson (A South champs; SCT Champs), TR North (NJSIAA SJ Group IV Champs) and CBA (NJSIAA Parochial A Champs). McGee was 2-1 as a sophomore with 1.04 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 27 IP, while only walking six.

Kapp, who missed the first two weeks of his junior season with a sprained ankle, batted .412 (21-51) with two doubles, 10 RBI, 13 runs scored and four stolen bases in 21 games. Kapp, who bats and throws lefthanded, had a very successful summer and fall pitching in American Legion and other competitive leagues.

Baseball: Kyle Kennett Signs With Rider

St. Rose senior ace Kyle Kennett said he has signed a National Letter of Intent for a scholarship at Rider University, so congrats to Kennett.

Kennett was an All Shore Media second-team All-Conference selection this past spring after going 8-2 with a 1.06 ERA, striking out 64 in 66 innings, walking 15 and holding opponents to a .187 average. The righty pitched five complete games and helped lead the Purple Roses to their second straight NJSIAA Non-Public B title. He also was selected as a member of the Jersey Shore Carpenter Cup team.

Howell game moved to Monday

The Central Jersey Group IV quarterfinal at Howell against Montgomery has been postponed from Sunday to Monday at 6 p.m. That means if the Rebels win, it’s going to be a short week until their semifinal game against Brick Memorial.

I got an e-mail from Howell coach Cory Davies that the field is under water from the rain of the past two weeks, so they will try again on Monday.

Thursday H.S. Football Show

Make sure to check out the Thursday High School football show tonight from 6-8 on WOBM 1160 a.m., Fox Sports 1310 a.m. and over the Internet at www.shoresportsnetwork.com or stop by Boston’s in Toms River to catch it live.

Check out the schedule below

THURSDAY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SHOW (11/12/09)

(Boston’s Restaurant & Sports Bar)

6:05-6:15  Opening Monologue and Review of past weekend

COMMERCIAL BREAK

6:18-6:28  Steve Falk, AP Press

COMMERCIAL BREAK

6:30-6:50  Charlie Diskin, Head Coach, Toms River East ( on location)

(TR East)  John Clark, DL/OL

COMMERCIAL BREAK

6:52-7PM  Bennett Jackson, WR-Raritan (phone)

——————————————————————————-

7:04-7:15  Scott Stump, All Shore Media

COMMERCIAL BREAK

7:18-7:38  Ron Signorino, former TR South head

coach on the 40^th anniversary of the

game against Middletown for #1 in NJ

• COMMERCIAL BREAK

7:40-7:50  Hawk Report with Kevin Callahan (phone)

COMMERCIAL BREAK

7:52-8pm  Football Picks & Close

The End Zone/Recruiting Update

You can click here for this week’s “End Zone” column and I excerpted the recruiting update below.

Recruiting Update

Manchester senior lineman Josh Siemanowicz, who is also an excellent student, has received heavy interest from the University of Pennsylvania, Lehigh and Lafayette…Toms River East senior RB Nico Steriti has received an offer from New Hampshire and interest from Maine, James Madison, Villanova, Delaware, and William & Mary and some interest from some Division I-A schools…As reported on the site on Friday night, Barnegat senior tight end/linebacker Jarrett Darmstatter has verbally committed to Boston College. He is the second member of this year’s senior class from Ocean County in the Shore Conference to commit to a Division I-A program along with Central lineman Adam Skidmore, who is headed to Tulane. (Raritan’s Bennett Jackson has also committed to Notre Dame). Manchester senior lineman Jimmy Lawson has verbally committed to Rutgers, but it is for a wrestling scholarship…Neptune junior running back Charles Davis, who already has an offer from Rutgers, returned from a fractured wrist in a win over JFK-Iselin on Saturday…Keyport senior lineman Bryan Thomson will choose between the University of Pennsylvania and Holy Cross…Long Branch senior linebacker/running back Billy George has narrowed his choices to the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, Columbia and Harvard, all for wrestling…The junior class is particularly strong in the Shore Conference as Middletown North tight end Shilique Calhoun, Long Branch quarterback Miles Shuler, Jackson Memorial lineman Dimitrius Smith, Point Boro wide receiver/defensive back Ryan Malleck, Neptune running back Charles Davis, Red Bank Catholic defensive lineman Matt Paolillo and running back/defensive back Andrew Casten, Raritan lineman Shane Mertz, and Barnegat quarterback Nick SanGiacomo have all either already been extended Division I-A scholarship offers or have received legitimate interest from Division I-A programs…Stanford and Rutgers could be the next to offer junior quarterback Miles Shuler, who already has offers from Duke and Northwestern, and Maryland has also shown interest, according to Long Branch coach Dan George. George did not have any updates on the recruitment of standout wideout/defensive backs Ezra Kelly and Devron Clark. Also, former Long Branch star Travis Patterson, who led the Shore Conference in rushing in 2007, is currently flourishing at Hudson Valley Community College in New York and has received interest from Rutgers, according to George.

NJSIAA Playoff Pairings and Schedule/Consolation Game Schedule

The official NJSIAA Pairings and Consolation Game schedules are up. Click here and scroll down to the bottom.

Darmstatter Commits to Boston College

One of the most highly sought-after recruits in the Shore Conference has made his decision, as Barnegat senior tight end Jarrett Darmstatter has made a verbal commitment to Boston College, according to Bengals coach Rob Davis.

Darmstatter, a 6-foot-4, 240-pounder with good hands and speed, had double-digit scholarship offers from Division I-A schools and chose the Eagles, where former Manasquan star Brad Newman is currently a defensive end. Purdue, Rutgers, and Syracuse were other schools in the running for Darmstatter, who becomes the first Division I-A recruit in the young history of Barnegat’s program.

“Jarrett is a great kid and he is going to a nice, established program,” Davis said. “Jarrett deserves everything he has gotten because he has worked hard for it.”

Darmstatter missed 2 1/2 games earlier this season with a dislocated elbow but has returned for the Bengals (2-5), who will play winless Lakewood on Saturday in a nondivisional game. He is currently third on the team with 15 catches for 272 yards and also is a starting linebacker.