Monroe gets set to host regional championship

MONROE — The township's 10-yearold baseball team in the Cal Ripken Tournament has enjoyed outstanding success the last two years, winning the Northern New Jersey championship.

However, the Dirty Birds, as the team is named, want another title — the Mid- Atlantic Regionals — and with it a trip to the Cal Ripkin Little League World Series in Colorado.

It won't be easy, although Monroe will get its chance to make the national championship series while playing in front of its home crowd two weeks from now.

Ten champions, representing Maryland, Delaware, Southeastern Pennsylvania, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, Metropolitan New York, Eastern New York and Western New York, will participate in the Cal Ripken Middle- Atlantic Regional Championship July 30- Aug. 5 at the James Monroe Little League complex on Dey Grove Road.

"It's an honor and privilege to be chosen as this year's host," said Mike Maiolo, Monroe Township Baseball Association president. "We have been preparing for this since last October when we got word we would be the home team for the tournament. The township has been outstanding in helping us get ready. We want our visitors to realize Monroe Township is a great community and that we are excellent hosts."

Opening ceremonies on July 30 will include all 10 teams participating in a special skills competition for throwing, hitting, and running at 3 p.m. Official ceremonies, during which teams will be introduced, will begin at 6 p.m. Monroe Township Mayor Richard Pucci will throw out the first pitch. The festivities will then move to the Crowne Plaza Hotel near Exit 8A off the New Jersey Turnpike where a barbecue will be held at Yogi's Sports Bar and Grille. There will also be a special appearance by the mascot of the Somerset Patriots baseball team.

While Maiolo hopes local fans will be in attendance when Monroe Township plays, games will be broadcast live on radio and the Internet on Big League Sound. The site can be found at http://www.bigleaguesound. com.

Official results of games will be posted on that site as well as on Monroe Township's baseball site, http://monroebaseball. com.

The Dirty Birds, managed by Mike Peto, will be competing in the Mid-Atlantic Regionals for the third consecutive year. Their overall record during that timeframe is 78- 8, which includes two District and Northern New Jersey titles. With all 13 members of last year's championship team returning, the Dirty Birds will be one of the favorites, in addition to enjoying a home field advantage.

Members of the Dirty Birds are Thomas Fleites, Joe Filiano, Mikey Granda, Stephen McCann, Nicky Lombard, Kyle Daly, Eric Heatter, RJ Dreyfuss, Matt Horn, Chris Perdoni, Rob Peto, Andrew Isola and Anthony Tagliaferro. The coaches are Jim Heatter, Gerry Fleites, Kirk McCann, Kevin Horn, Mike Peto and Lou Granda.

The 10 teams will be divided into two pools, A and B. The Dirty Birds, part of Pool B will see its first action July 31 at 5:30 p.m. against the Southern New Jersey champion. The following day, Monroe will meet Eastern New York in a 10 a.m. contest, and on Aug. 2 the action continues with a 3 p.m. game with Northwest Pennsylvania.

The first- and second-place teams in Pools A & B, based on record, advance to a single-elimination tournament on Aug. 4, with the first contest at 1:30 p.m. featuring second place in Pool B vs. first place in Pool A. At 4 p.m., second place in Pool A will meet first place in Pool B.

The championship game will be at noon on Aug. 5 between the winners of the semifinal games.

The winner of the Aug. 5 game will advance to the national championship in Colorado, to be held Aug. 15-22