Sport Shorts

Two local pitchers are enjoying solid seasons for the Rutgers University baseball team. Freshman Chris Lillis, a CBA graduate from Fair Haven, picked up three saves in one week recently, with two coming in one day against St. John’s University on April 17. Lillis leads the team with five saves this season.

Meanwhile, Middletown North graduate Aaron Kalb, a sophomore, gave the team a quality start against Seton Hall on April 14, allowing just six hits and four runs in 6.1 innings of work. He walked three and struck out five, and retired 10 in a row at one point as the Scarlet Knights took an 8-1 lead into the seventh inning.

Another Middletown North grad, junior Vinny Esposito, is having a tremendous offensive season, ranking among the team’s leaders in several offensive categories including runs (24), hits (34), doubles (9) and RBIs (20).

Junior Andrea Weckstein, of Holmdel, is seeing her first action at No. 1 singles for the Rutgers University women’s tennis team. She was 11-8 in dual matches at the top spot entering last weekend’s Big East Championship.

The St. John Vianney softball team is sponsoring its inaugural Lancer Joust Tournament on Sunday. Teams joining the Lancers are Hillsborough, Mount St. Dominic and New Egypt. Games are scheduled for 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The one-day softball festival will include refreshments, clothing and equipment sales, softball-related games and a tournament. There is no admission fee. For information, call (732) 972-8848 or (73) 972-1548.

Mac’s Fun Ball, a summer basketball league with games played at Middletown’s Waloo Park, is off to a fast start despite the bad weather that has forced the cancellation of games. On Friday night, the Seraphs beat the Rockets, 58-47, behind the superb play-making of Sal Corcione. The Seraphs won their first game of the season despite a game-high 24 points from the Rockets’ Randy Kirk.

In the 6 p.m. game, the Eagles beat the Titans, 57-54, behind Dave Thompson’s double-double, 14 points and 10 rebounds. Justin Linkletter had 11 rebounds for the Titans. In the 7 p.m. game, Ed Trojanoski’s short jumper was the game-winner in overtime as the Lions stayed undefeated with a 68-66 win over the Hornets. Andrew Novak led the Lions with 22 points while Mike Fasano had 18 points and 15 boards for the Hornets.

Saturday’s games were rained out and will be played on May 16. The early-season standings are as follows: Lions 3-0; Hornets 2-1; Titans 1-1; Colts 1-1; Eagles 1-2; Seraphs 1-2; Rockets 0-2.

Lincroft’s Carol Wittlieb and Belford’s Nicole Karatzia finished in sixth and ninth place, respectively, at Sunday’s New Jersey Marathon, held in Long Branch.

Wittlieb, 21, crossed the line in 3:23.04, just under 31 seconds behind the women’s top finisher, Dorian Meyer (2:52.46) of Rumson, while Karatzia, 35, crossed the line in 3:31.00.