Beatty, who competed in a number of talent camps and showcases throughout the summer, averaged 13 points per game last year for the Friars and is expected to take on more leadership responsibilities this season, as the Friars will more than likely begin the season as the No. 1 team in New Jersey.
George Washington enjoyed a great campaign last year, winning 27 games before losing to Duke in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Beatty will be a perfect fit there for head coach Karl Hobbs and the team's high-paced offensive attack...
Circle the calendar for Saturday, Oct. 7, beginning at 7 p.m. There will be a roast and dinner buffet honoring former St. Peter's College women's basketball coach Mike Granelli at the Yanitelli Center. Tickets for the roast are priced at $35 and a table sponsorship is $250. All of the proceeds from the evening go to SPC women's basketball program.
It should be a fun night of laughs and memories for one of the all-time greatest women's hoops coaches, as well as one of the biggest chop busters, so it will be good to see the shoe on the other foot.
You have to guess that many of Granelli's former friends and cronies from his days as a teacher in the Hoboken school district would want to attend to hear the pokes and jabs coming from a lot of people who know the coach well, including yours truly.
For more information about tickets and sponsorships, please contact Katie Murphy at (201) 915-9094 or via e-mail at kmurphy@spc.edu. Make plans to attend...
In high school soccer action, St. Peter's Prep won the HCIAA Coviello championship a year ago and most might consider them to be the favorite to win the league title once again.
However, Prep lost a lot of players to graduation, including 2005 Hudson Reporter Player of the Year Ted Yager, who scored 19 goals in leading his team to the league title. Yager is now attending the University of Massachusetts.
"Our struggle this year will be scoring goals," said long-time St. Peter's head coach John Irvine. "Not only did we lose Ted, but we also lost a scoring midfielder in Jason Thorne (10 goals, 15 assists, now at Fairfield University) and our top defender, Will Griffin (now playing at Montclair State). In fairness to the kids we have returning, we can't look at it as a rebuilding year, but we did lose a lot since last year."
Irvine is hopeful that senior Brian Bannon can make the step up and be the team's go-to striker.
"I think he can score in double figures, which is a lot for us," Irvine said. "We just need one or two more to be a good scoring threat."
Irvine doesn't have to worry about his defense, which returns senior Phil Opsasnick at sweeper and Doug Barone as a defensive midfielder. Junior Doug Freeman takes over at goalkeeper. Irvine, a standout goalie in his playing days, likes the way Freeman attacks the net. Seniors Matt Kaminski and Gianfranco Wilbeck are also experienced defenders on the Prep backline.
Maybe Ian Buzzio, a sophomore midfielder and younger brother of former Prep standout Drew Buzzio, can emerge as a scoring threat. Ian Buzzio scored the game winning goal in the 2-1 win over Regis to start the year.
So will the Marauders contend for another title?
"I would hope so," Irvine said. "The kids work hard and I think they're going to get better. They're already in good condition."
And in good contention for a second straight HCIAA Coviello title. The Marauders sit atop the first Hudson Reporter High School Soccer Top Five this week...
Some football musings over the first few weeks of the season: Anyone who thinks that the St. Peter's Prep-Memorial final score, which ended up 71-6 in favor of the state's top-ranked team, was too lopsided, try this one on for size. The Marauders played all 73 kids who dressed for the game. There were only four passes attempted. Three different Marauder running backs rushed for 100 yards, two of whom are sophomores.
What else was St. Peter's supposed to do? Just take every snap after halftime and just fall down? It sounds that way when you hear some disgruntled locals or read the high school football forums.
It isn't up to the Prep to be less competitive. It does fall on the shoulders of Memorial to be more competitive...
And was there anyone, except the respective head coaches, who thought that both Hudson Catholic and Union Hill would be 2-0 at this point? It's an great start for both Rob Stern at Hudson and Joe Rotondi at Union Hill...
The great St. Michael's CYO youth basketball program in Union City, which has serviced thousands of youngsters over the years and has produced a bunch of players who went on to become high school coaches, will hold its league registration Sept. 30 at the parish gymnasium.
The league will hold signups from 9-11 a.m. that morning, then hold tryouts for its 12-year-old team from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and for the 14-year-old team from 1-3 p.m.
For more information, contact Steve Ricciardi, Jr. at (201) 728-8670...-- Jim Hague
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