Cinnaminson

In the last-gasp effort of his high school career, Clinton Hart thought about what it would be like 30 years from now. He was cramped and winded from playing every snap in the game. But so what? He would tell his grandkids about this win someday, he thought. As theatrical as Delran's final drive felt, Hart made it look even more so, recording back-to-back sacks on third and fourth downs to seal Cinnaminson's 17-14 home upset on Thanksgiving Day. "Every year, even back in Pop Warner, it's us vs. Delran in the last game," said Hart, Cinnaminson's senior two-way lineman.

Traditionalists may frown upon this season's new three-division alignment in the Burlington County League. But the Cinnaminson field hockey team loves its new surroundings. Riding a four-game winning streak, the Pirates (4-1-1) are sitting in first place in the Patriot Division. If Cinnaminson maintains its residency in the Patriot penthouse, it would be the program's first division title since 1980. "If we're going to win a divisional title, this is the year to do it because of the new alignment," Cinnaminson coach Beth Baxter said.

Unlike other teams, Willingboro has two records. One without Shaun Russell. One with Russell. "We're a different team," Willingboro coach Jeff Haddock said of the impact of Russell, a 6-foot-3 senior who sat out the first 30 days of the season as a transfer from Westampton Tech. Russell scored 24 points and added four assists and three rebounds Thursday night as Willingboro beat Cinnaminson, 70-46, in a Burlington County League Patriot Division boys' basketball game in the Chimeras' gym. The victory evened Willingboro's record at 9-9. The Chimeras are 8-2 in the division.

Jim Robinson, who was serving his second stint as Cinnaminson football coach, has resigned. Robinson, who will remain at the school as supervisor of health and physical education, compiled a 24-64-1 record in 10 seasons. He returned to the head coaching position three years ago and infused life into a struggling program before stepping down this month. In 1994, Cinnaminson went 0-9, forfeiting four of its last five games because of a dwindling number of players. Robinson began his second tenure in 1995, and even though the Pirates were 0-9, the program made strides.

Cinnaminson took advantage of an early Eastern error last night and went on to defeat the Vikings, 10-0, in an Olympic Conference National Division football game. The loss by Eastern (5-2 overall, 5-2 league) left Camden Catholic, which is idle this weekend, in position to clinch its first Olympic National title by beating winless Gloucester Catholic next week. Cinnaminson (7-1, 6-1) can finish tied with Camden Catholic in the National Division standings, but it would be placed second because its one loss is to Catholic.

The Camden Catholic High football team had a few problems to solve yesterday when it met Cinnaminson at Farnham Park. The Irish, the No. 1 team in The Inquirer's South Jersey Top 10, were down by a point at halftime. They had been denied a touchdown during the first two periods, and the new-look offense Cinnaminson coach Dave Riley devised for the game had the Catholic defense scrambling for a while to get in position. In the end, it was Cinnaminson that was scrambling to catch up. Catholic (6-0)

The one thing the Cinnaminson boys' soccer team hasn't had much practice with this year is coming from behind. The Pirates faced a deficit for only the second time all season yesterday, but they never flinched. After trailing, 1-0, Cinnaminson stormed back for four unanswered goals during a 4-2 win over Northern Burlington in the South Jersey Group 2 championship match. It was the Pirates' first sectional title since 1994. Top-seeded Cinnaminson, which is ranked No. 2 in South Jersey by The Inquirer, is now 20-1-1.

The meet meant nothing in the scheme of winning a division title. Still, Cinnaminson did not look like a cross-country team out for just another run. In a Burlington County League batch meet Tuesday at Cinnaminson, the Pirates tangled with Moorestown and Rancocas Valley, regarded as the two best teams in the Burlco's big-school Liberty Division, and ran away with convincing wins. "We were definitely looking to make a statement," said Cinnaminson senior Dave Bresnahan, who was third overall.

The Cinnaminson High basketball team visited Maple Shade yesterday for a Burlington County League interdivisional contest and watched the hosts score four straight baskets before the game was two minutes old. But at the end of the game, it was Maple Shade that was playing catch-up, as Cinnaminson (5-0) - with four players scoring in double figures - took command of the game early in the second period and went home a 61-53 winner. "We didn't come out ready to play, and they came out fired up," Cinnaminson coach Greg Ogden said.

It's getting late in the football season, and teams are scrambling for playoff berths. Cinnaminson and Willingboro will play Friday in a game with major South Jersey Group 2 playoff implications. The high-scoring Pirates (4-2) are hoping for a home playoff game. Willingboro (3-3) has won three of its last four to move into contention. Here's a closer look, with predictions, at 10 games this weekend. (Last week: 10-0. Season to date: 50-20.) Friday at 5 p.m. Cinnaminson (4-2)

Pitching Wins 10: Luke Westfield, Pennsville 9: Matt Ennis, Pitman; Chris Oakley, St. Augustine; Steve Priolo, Eastern; John Bednarek, Cinnaminson; Zack Gakeler, Northern Burlington 8: Mike Shawaryn, Gloucester Catholic; John Murphy, Gloucester Catholic; Devin Smeltzer, Bishop Eustace; Kyle Grim, Williamstown; Don Money, Vineland 7: Mark Scarpa, Washington Township; Donovan Casey, Sterling; Will Allen, Cherry Hill West 6: Chris Seibert,...

TOMS RIVER, N.J. - Cinnaminson second baseman Cole Pewor's at-bat in the seventh inning encompassed a wide range of emotions. After he hopped around the batter's box hoping to push a pop-up out of play, the energetic senior violently jerked his head after fouling a pitch into the backstop. Ultimately, Pewor ran to first base with his right index finger in the air, then stood on the bag clapping after his ground ball got through the left side for a single, bringing home the winning run and sending Cinnaminson to a 2-1 victory over defending champion Mahwah in the Group 2 title game at Toms River South.

Kevin Merrill figures the delay is good for John Bednarek's arm and bad for everybody else's stomach. "I know it's good for all the pitchers," Merrill, the Cinnaminson baseball coach, said of the postponement of Saturday's state championship games. "But we all want this game to get here as fast as it can. We're so excited to do something that Cinnaminson has never done before. " The NJSIAA announced Friday that Saturday's state finals in baseball and softball would be pushed back to Sunday to account for heavy rain in the Toms River area.

All games Sunday. Group 4 Eastern (28-4) vs. Westfield (19-11) at Toms River North, 3:30 p.m. Eastern's road to the final: Beat Millville, 4-2; Toms River North, 7-3; Williamstown, 4-0; Shawnee, 16-6; Hunterdon Central, 2-1. Westfield's road to the final: Beat Scotch Plains- Fanwood, 15-7; Linden, 1-0; Perth Amboy, 2-1; North Hunterdon, 4-2; Randolph, 3-2. Eastern players to watch: Steve Priolo (8-1, 1.99 ERA); Nick Tierno (.340, 34 hits, 39 runs); Tom Flacco (.414, 41 hits, 15 extra-base hits, 38 RBIs)

Cinnaminson's Cole Pewor doesn't mind attention. Sometimes, the senior second baseman gets it from his stellar play. He is batting .417 this season and has collected 106 hits in his high school career. Other times, Pewor, who wears his emotions on his sleeve, draws notice for his grunting after a regrettable swing at the plate or play in the field. "Cole's a weird kid. He can be annoying at times. I've told him this, and I said this at our spring sports award banquet," Cinnaminson coach Kevin Merrill said.

Cinnaminson went through Monmouth, literally and figuratively, to advance to its first Group 2 final in school history, earning a 7-6 win Tuesday at the College of New Jersey. Tyler DiPascale, who had a two-out single and stole second in the eighth inning, eyed home when Cole Pewor singled to right. DiPascale collided with Monmouth's third baseman, who was standing in the base path, leading to an interference call and the game-winning run. "They were yelling and screaming, but in my opinion, it was the right call," Cinnaminson coach Kevin Merrill said.

Friday at 4 p.m. Shawnee (16-9) at Eastern (26-3): The Vikings beat the Renegades twice in the regular season by a combined 23-5. Burlington Township (15-7) at Ocean City (23-3): Led by Beau Hall and Kyle Andrews, the Red Raiders have won 20 in a row. Cinnaminson (19-8) at West Deptford (18-6): The Eagles are riding high after upsetting Sterling, which had beaten them twice by a combined 18-0 in the regular season. Pitman (19-5) at Pennsville (20-3): These Tri-County Classic rivals split in the regular season, with the Eagles' Luke Westfield flirting with a perfect game against the Panthers in a May 13 victory.

John Bednarek lost his no-hit bid Friday in the fifth inning, but it did not faze him as he guided Cinnaminson to a 3-2 win over visiting Middle Township in the South Jersey Group 2 quarterfinals. The senior lefthander pitched all seven innings, struck out eight, and allowed just two hits and two walks. He improved to 7-1. "He was dominant," coach Kevin Merrill said. "His fastball was live. His off-speed pitches were moving very well. " Merrill said Bednarek's fastball hovers around the mid- to high 80s. Junior first baseman Marty McDonald slapped a go-ahead double in the sixth inning to put the Pirates ahead, 2-1. Cody MacNair, a pinch-runner, scored easily from second as the hit traveled over the centerfielder's head.

Shawnee starter Jackie Pezzato saw Jordan Weed, her Toms River East counterpart, matching her frame for frame through nine innings of their South Jersey Group 4 softball quarterfinal, so Pezzato took the offense into her own hands. The senior singled to center field to score Alexis Gordon in the 10th inning and send the sixth-seeded Renegades to a thrilling, come-from-behind, 3-2 win over the third seeds. Pezzato also hurled 10 innings of three-hit ball, fanning seven, for the win. Weed struck out 17 in going the distance for the Raiders.

Cinnaminson did not take long to respond to Moorestown on Tuesday. After the visiting Quakers tied Cinnaminson, 4-4, in the top of the seventh, the Pirates won in the bottom half of the inning, 5-4, in a nonleague baseball game. Cinnaminson's Nick Thevanayagum singled and stole second. After Clinton Hart singled to move Thevanayagum to third, Harry Cicale ended the game with a base hit off the pitcher's glove. In other nonleague play: Sophomore Anthony Faust earned his first varsity win for host Maple Shade after he gave up one run over three innings with two strikeouts in a 13-1 win against Willingboro.