Hurley's horse off to Derby; familiar showdown between Hudson hurlers

After finishing a strong second in the Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland Race Track in Lexington, Ky., Bobby Hurley's wonder colt, Songandaprayer, will now move on to the granddaddy of all horse races, the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville May 5.

Right now, racing experts place the odds on Songandaprayer at 30-1, but that's just estimated odds. The number should actually drop come race day.

Still, it's amazing to see a kid from Jersey City actually owning a horse that will race in the Kentucky Derby. Just being there has to be a gigantic thrill. From someone who used to be a huge racing fan and who attended the Derby as a fan on more than one occasion, the idea of owning a horse in the race has to be beyond comprehension.

Although I personally think that Point Given is the horse who will not only win the Derby, but move on to win the Triple Crown, we will be privately rooting for Hurley's horse to win the "Run for the Roses."...

It seemed like old times last week in what turned out to be quite an interesting collegiate softball game that took place earlier last week between New Jersey City University and Ramapo.

On the mound for NJCU was Jersey City native and former Holy Family Academy standout hurler Tara DeFilippo. Pitching for Ramapo was former North Bergen star Tara Solan.

The two pitchers used to go up against each other many times, when they were the queens of the hill for their respective high schools. In fact, there is no love lost at all between the two. In fact, the two exchanged words during a game two years ago and Solan was quoted in a local newspaper about her disdain for DeFilippo.

In the end, DeFilippo and NJCU got the victory this time, by a 4-2 score, although Solan didn't surrender an earned run and was plagued by three errors that led to four unearned runs.

But it was interesting to see the two Hudson County pitching stars go head-to-head once again. It's safe to say that the temperature was more than chilly between the two during the game at Ramapo in Mahwah...

The pitcher who replaced Solan on the hill for North Bergen, namely Jodie Hild, had quite a game the other day against Union Hill. Not only did sophomore Hild fire a no-hitter, but she also collected six hits in the game, including two triples and a homer, and knocked in eight runs. That's the kind of game that people can only dream of. A no-hitter, while collecting six hits and eight RBI? Too amazing for words...

Has there been a bigger win in the local baseball season that Union Hill's gigantic 7-2 upset win over Bayonne? Hiller head coach Jimmy Walsh, the former Weehawken pitching standout, has done an outstanding job in only his second year as the head coach. But gaining the win over a perennial baseball power like Bayonne is a mind blower. Union Hill already has a 5-3 record this season, and that alone makes Walsh a solid contender for Coach of the Year honors.

Larry Rivero had three hits and two RBI and Darlin Pena pitched a five-hitter to give the Hillers the mammoth victory...

New Lincoln baseball coach Rich Nesbit has already recorded four victories in his first year with the Lions and that alone is next to miraculous...

Secaucus product Mark Lukasiewicz had to be elated last week when he received word that he was being promoted to the Anaheim Angels. The 6-6 left-handed pitcher, who spent six years with the Toronto Blue Jays chain, received word that he was being promoted to the big leagues last Friday.

Well, "Big Luke's" joy lasted all of two days, because the Angels sent Lukasiewicz back to Class AAA Salt Lake City on Monday, when the team activated pitcher Jarrod Washburn off the disabled list. Still, Lukasiewicz was in the major leagues for a weekend and although he didn't see action, he was part of the Angels' roster for a while.

Here's to hoping that he receives another chance to pitch in the majors sometime soon...

Another local product also received promotion to the major leagues recently. Former St. Peter's College hurler Victor Santos was called up to the big leagues last week by the Detroit Tigers and has already impressed in three relief appearances, not giving up a single run.

Santos becomes the first SPC player to ever make the major league level. Some other Peacock products played in the minor leagues, but Santos becomes the first to make it all the way to the majors...

Highly respected Jersey Journal sportswriter Mike Rowan is not feeling well. Let's keep the man known as "Scoop" in our prayers. He's a great guy who is in need of our support these days...

Former St. Anthony, Seton Hall and NBA standout Terry Dehere is venturing into the world of politics and is running for the councilman-at-large in Jersey City on former mayor Gerald McCann's ticket.

There's only one problem. Has anyone noticed the promotional material that is pasted all over Jersey City, pushing Terry's candidacy? His name is spelled, "DeHere," not "Dehere," which is the way it should be spelled.

If I were Terry and I was running for office, I would make sure that they had my name spelled correctly on all material...