Tough break for Valentin; Zampella gets an invite and another year

Just when it looked like Jersey City's John Valentin had his knee problems settled and he was ready to rejoin the Boston Red Sox lineup on a full-time basis, Valentin blew out his anterior cruciate ligament in a game Tuesday night and was lost for the season.

That's a tough blow for the 33-year-old Valentin, who was being pushed for playing time by upstart youngster Wilton Veras. Now, with a nine-month rehabilitation staring him in the face, could it be that the former St. Anthony and Seton Hall star's career is at the crossroads?

Valentin has always beaten the odds. Here's to hoping that Valentin can make a solid comeback next season...

Here's an interesting stat that I stumbled across the other day. There's only one player in major league baseball history who has pulled off an unassisted triple play, hit for the cycle and hit three homers in a game. And that's none other than Johnny Valentin. Pretty impressive...

Hoboken's Angela Zampella received some great news and even better news recently. First, the former St. Dominic Academy brilliant point guard, who led the nation in assists this season for St. Joseph's in Philly, was invited to participate at the U.S. Olympic Festival later this month.

And then, she learned that she was granted an extra year of eligibility from the NCAA for being able to graduate on time after being forced to sit out her freshman year as a Proposition 48 casualty. So college hoop fans in the City of Brotherly Love - as well as the Mile Square City - will be treated to another year of Angela's wizardry ...

Speaking of Hoboken wizards, Hoboken running back Tyrell Dortch, headed for Michigan State in the fall, was announced as one of the finalists for the New Jersey Nets High School Athlete of the Year Award. Dortch is one of 10 finalists for the award, which will be announced at a luncheon Thursday afternoon ...

How in the world can the NJSIAA actually be proud of its state playoff scheduling? St. Peter's Prep, trying to win both the NJSIAA Parochial A and the HCIAA playoffs, had to play three crucial games in three days to advance in both tournaments. Isn't that a lot to ask of high school kids?

Lost in the shuffle of late-minute cuts in the WNBA was the Washington Mystics releasing former St. Anthony standout Nyree Roberts. Roberts, who has spent the last two seasons in the WNBA with the Houston Comets and Washington last year, will try to hook on with another club...