Sports Shorts

Caitlyn Hennessy of Freehold, a senior at The Peddie School in Hightstown, committed to the University of Pennsylvania, where she will continue her softball career.

Hennessy has led the Falcons to three straight NJSIAA Prep A state softball championships. Last spring, the lefthanded pitcher went 13-1 fanning 198 batters in 98 innings. She hurled 10 shutouts and had an earned run average of 0.36. She batted .410 and scored 22 runs.

Hennessy, who also plays field hockey for the Falcons, will be attending Penn with her teammate Jamie Boccanfuso. They look to make it four straight Prep A state titles at Peddie before moving on to the Quakers.

Howell's Zac Cunliffe, a junior at Rider University, began the 2007-08 college wrestling season ranked 26th nationally at 133 pounds. The former Howell High School and Peddie School standout missed last season with the Broncs due to an injury. In his freshman year at Rider, Cunliffe won a teamhigh 24 matches and the Colonial Athletic Conference (CAA) championship. He qualified for the NCAA tournament.

Cunliffe started the season with a third place at the Keystone Tournament in Philadelphia at the University of Pennsylvania. Rider took fourth place.

At Howell, Cunliffe had a legendary career. He was a four-time state place winner including runner-up his senior year. He won four District 21 and three Region VI championships. He graduated with a career record of 137-8. His 137 wins were the all-time Shore Conference record.

Marlboro's Kristen Politz, 9, made the TOPS National Gymnastics Team and earned an all-expense paid trip to train at the USA Gymnastics National Team Training Center in Huntsville, Texas, at the ranch of Bela and Marta Krolyi.

Politz, who attends the Defino Central Elementary School in Marlboro, trains at Rebound Gymnastics in Cliffwood. She and her coach attended the TOPS Training Camp early last month and worked with the USA Gymnastics National Coaching staff. Politz had to go through USA Gynmnastics' qualifying process.

USA Gymnastics is the national governing body of the sport in the U.S., and it conducts an annual Talent Opportunity Program to identify young gymnasts who have the ability to excel in the sport. Through a series of rigorous tests, USA Gymnastics identifies the top gymnasts in three age groups (9, 10 and 11) to make up the TOPS team. Regional testing took place throughout the summer. More than 3,000 participated. From those, 300 from around the country qualified for the TOPS National Testing in October. At the national testing, each gymnast was scored on a variety of skills, and the top 20-30 from each age division were named to the TOPS team.

The Freehold Borough Little League will begin holding its 2008 registration tomorrow and Friday 7-9 p.m. at the American Legion hall. Other dates are Jan. 18, 7-9 p.m., and Jan. 19 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Borough residents ages 5-16 are eligible. Participants must have a birth certificate and proof of residency with them at the time of registration. The fees range from $60 to $100 depending on the level. A $100 refundable work bond is required. Call (732) 845-0256 for more information.