sports

on the mark by Mark Mattern Retirement Bug Bites Another Cape Coach

There is something going around the county and every three out of four are catching it When you win a division title in high school basketball, you retire. Is it a disease? I don't think so. hut retirement has taken another hoop coach. After spending the past 15 years as a high school coach. George llolden has called it quits at Lower Cape May High School. Holden leaves the profession with a 216-139 career mark, which includes a stop at Haddon Heights as well as his stint at Lower. The 51 year -old coach felt that he has come to a point in his life where he . has had enough basketball. Holden did admit that the graduation of his son Pat had a lot to do with the decision. HOLDEN'S TEAM at Lower Cape May won conference titles in his second year, 1971, and his last year, this past season. Holden claims his biggest thrill of his career was being able to coach his son Pat. who earned allconference honors Holden will remain with the high school in his cur rent position as a math teacher. A search for a replacement for Holden is expected to get under way this week. LAST WEEK the weather outside took a turn

backward and at times it looked a lot like basketball season, but the spring sports schedule got started. An early season surprise took place in the contest between Buena and Wildwood Catholic on the diamond Although Buena is expected to make a run for the conference flag, not many thought they would trounce the Crusaders by a 12 to 0 score. It was a rough start for senior pitcher Joe Aita as Buena put together a few hits and walks to take an early lead. On the day, Wildwood Catholic could manage just two hits against Buena hurlers Vince Pace and Bobby Cola. AT WILDWOOD. Bill Osborn is gone but the bats were hot early as the Warriors dumped Pleasantville by a 7 to 1 count. Andre Harris got the fireworks started early as he nailed a two-run homer in the first. The Contest was called after five innings because of darkness and Charles O'Hala picked up the win. In other action. Middle Township lost to Sacred Heart 7-3. SPEAKING OF hot bats at Wildwood. let's not forget the girls' softball team. Last week they combined 11 hits and a stack of walks for a 30-4 win over Pleasantville.

Audra Coleman led the Warrior attack that scored 11 runs in the first inning and 12 runs in the fourth inning. Coleman collected two hits and two RBI on the day. Wildwood Catholic gave up 14 walks and Buena walked away with a 10-1 victory. The Crusaders managed just two singles on the day. both collected by Abbey Williams. FROM THE DIAMOND to the cinders now. In boys' track Lower Cape May got off to a quick start, picking up two wins on the first day of competition. The Capers took a 67-63 victory over a stunned Oakcrest squad and a 82-49 win over Middle Township. Fleet-footed Mike Wing picked up a win in the 400 and the long jump against Oakcrest and a triple win against the Panthers. Weightman Joe DeFault scored three wins in the two meets. Wildwood and Wildwood Catholic both went down to defeat in league competition. WILDWOOD FELL to Hammonton by a score of 72-59 and the Crusaders slipped by a 77-51 count to Buena. Chris Koch picked up a tripe win for Wildwood Catholic. Can any team sweep an entire meet in track competition'' Well. Ocean City

tried just that as the Raiders wiped out Atlantic City 122-8. Sophomore Leon Brown tripled for O.C. In girls' track. Ocean City tried it again. The girls whipped Atlantic City to the tune of 103-15. Pam McFar land. Maureen Dougherty. Margie Bonnet and Diane Urban all won at least two events. Kara McVey won the discus and the javelin for Middle Township, but it wasn't enough; the Panthers fell to Oakcrest 75-47. BUDDY SIMMERMAN and Bob Wittmeyer both carded a 47 as Middle Township lost to Sacred Heart in golf. 185-197. Following Simmerman and Wittmeyer was Doug Vogelei with a 49. Wildwood Catholic got a sizzling from Mark DiFilippo as the Crusaders dumped Buena by a 200-234 score. In tennis. Sacred Heart dashed opening day for Middle Township as it tapped the Panthers 3 to 2. Mike Renza and Anthony Body picked up the Middle points with wins in singles play, REMARKS: Well, they did it. The Wildcats of Villanova won the N.C.A.A. basketball championship by downing Georgetown.

Did anyone really think they could pull it off? Georgetown was on a roll after smashing St. John's, but 'Nova was not to be denied. They had to play the perfect game and they did. Any team that can shoot 79 percent for the entire game deserves to win. I don't know about you. but I like to see the underdog win. Len Matuszek. who called himself an "insurance policy" finally was traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Toronto Blue Jays. Matuszek lost his job to a kid named John Russell who played his way onto the 25-man roster this spring. It's nice to see that young players can really

by playing well in the exhibition season. REPORTS SAY that the Phillies wanted a top relief pitcher for Matuszek, but the best Toronto could do was Bryan Clark. Instead, the Phils opted for three young players. We will never know what kind of career Matuszek would have had if the Phillies hadn't buried him so deep in the farm system Matuszek was told time after time to wait. When Pete Rose arrived, Matuszek was forgotten altogether. Here's one who is hoping that Len does well for the Blue Jays. He deserves the shot at least.

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Lakers Champions At Consolidated

COLD SPRING - Consolidated School's sixth grade basketball league concluded its final week of action April 1. Eight teams of 12 students each competed in the afterschool program When the dust cleared, the standings revealed the Lakers with an untarnished 6-0 mark. Throughout the year, the trademark of the champions was balanced scoring. MEMBERS OF the Lakers are: Paul Bucko. Colleen Carpenter. Kenneth Hewitt. John Koeck. Kathy Mader. John Magill. Bryan McCrone, Matt McGaffney, Steve Micciche. Patrick Nardizzi. Vicki Piechotka. Jeremy Varner. and John Yeager. The champs clinched the league table with a 20-8 victory over the Celtics. McGaffney led all scorers with 10 points while Bucko contributed 6 more for the Lakers. The Nets' offense come to life March 25 in a 30-10 triumph over the Rockets. John MColgan paced the winners with a dozen points, while Michael Weaver chipped in with 6 more. THE HAWKS were victorious the 27th as Aaron Fretz Aaron Fretz (9 points) and Eric Coombs (8 points) led their team over the Warriors 21-14.

Michael Owens paced the Warriors with 12 points. Thursday. March 28, saw the year's biggest upset The previously winless Rockets stunned the 76ers in a come-from-behind victory. Chris Anderson and Chad Erne did most of the damage for the Rockets with 8 points each. Mark Mills poured in 8 points for the 76ers. The season came to a close on April Fool's Day as the Nets thumped the Bullets 28-17. JOHN MCCOLGAN led a balanced attack, with 10 points. Seven players scored for the Nets, including Suzanne Dufault's first bucket of the year The Bullets were led by Charles Smith's 5 points. FINAL. STANDING LAKERS HAWKS 5-l WARRIORS 4-2 NETS 3-3 CELTICS 2-4 76ERS 2-4 ROCKETS 1-5 BULLETS 0-6

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