Moorestown

WEST LONG BRANCH N.J. - The win was Moorestown's 50th in a row, a streak spanning just about two full seasons. It's a milestone few teams in any sport can claim. It occurred Wednesday night, a 12-5 victory over Oak Knoll in the Tournament of Champions semifinals at Monmouth University. Both achievements are the kind most girls' lacrosse programs only dream of. But Moorestown didn't give much thought to either. "It's our 50th win in a row?" asked Marie McCool, who led Moorestown with four goals.

The Burlington County Republican Committee handily beat back a rare tea-party challenge in the race for six seats in county and state government in Tuesday's primary elections. "It's not even close, as I had suspected, and clearly our message and what we have accomplished in the county - cutting taxing and spending - resonates with the members of the GOP," Committee Chairman Bill Layton said. "I hope that this is a lesson that in the future, these groups work with us . . . vs. against us. " The incumbents, Sheriff Jean Stanfield of Westampton and Freeholder Joe Donnelly of Cinnaminson, defeated William E. Moore 3d of Edgewater Park and Stephen "Lance" Silver of Medford, respectively.

The first day back at school was fitting for a state champion. "It was amazing for all the players," Shawnee girls' lacrosse coach Janae Zechman said. "They were being congratulated in the hallways, in every classroom. They really were able to enjoy it. " But unlike with most state champions, that feeling didn't last long. "By the afternoon," Zechman said, "we were on the practice field, focused and ready to go. " On Saturday, the Renegades won their first state girls' lacrosse title since 1998 - an especially meaningful accomplishment considering that Shawnee has long been considered one of the state's top lacrosse programs.

UNION, N.J. - It happens so rarely that even when it's brief, it's interesting and meaningful to watch. For most of the first 15 minutes of Saturday's state championship game, the Moorestown girls' lacrosse team was trailing. It was a truly different position for the Quakers to be in, but one they handled. "We just don't allow ourselves to get flustered," Moorestown coach Deanna Knobloch said after the Quakers pulled away to win the state Group 3 title with an 18-10 win over Mendham.

Watch out for the bear hug from the big, hairy guy seen roaming around Mount Laurel and Moorestown. On Tuesday, Moorestown residents reported sightings of the 5-foot, 400-pound black bear seen over the last several days. He's been spotted swimming and foraging, and he strolled so close to the Moorestown Mall that, perhaps, he was contemplating a shopping spree. More likely, officials say, he's looking for love. "They're looking for a place to live and looking for a mate," said Larry Hajna, a spokesman for the Department of Environmental Protection, which oversees the Division of Fish and Wildlife.

Group 3 State Final Preview   Shawnee (19-4) vs. Ridgewood (12-9) 5 p.m. Wednesday at Ridge Shawnee's road to the state final: Beat Steinert, 18-2; Colts Neck, 14-6; Princeton, 5-4; Moorestown, 4-3 (OT). Ridgewood's road to the state final: Beat Hanover Park, 19-0; Vernon, 17-0; Millburn, 7-6; West Morris, 6-3. Shawnee player to watch: Junior goalie Reese Tursi made 18 saves in a 4-3 win over Moorestown in the South Jersey Group 3 final. He has 229 saves this season.

Morgan DiVello hit a grand slam in the sixth inning Tuesday afternoon to propel Hammonton past Kingsway, 7-6, in the South Jersey Group 3 softball semifinals. The homer, on a 1-1 pitch, traveled to center field. DiVello went 2 for 3 with two runs scored and five RBIs. Tori Danner led Kingsway with a pair of hits, three RBIs, and a two-run homer. In the other semifinal, Erynn Sobieski pitched a three-hit shutout and Michele Civile hit a game-winning homer in the seventh as host GCIT dropped Pinelands, 2-0. S.J. Non-Public B. Mikaela Power reached on a walk in the eighth inning and scored from second on an overthrow to give St. Joseph a 5-4 win over visiting Wildwood Catholic in the quarterfinals.

Jake Dean's specialty has been his versatility. According to Shawnee football and lacrosse coach Tim Gushue, Dean is the "last of a breed" because of his three-sport excellence at a large school with outstanding athletic programs. But it's fitting that, as Dean's wide-ranging and highly successful career has narrowed to its final days, the 6-foot athlete is preparing to play his biggest game in his best sport. Dean, a senior midfielder, will lead Shawnee into Wednesday night's Group 3 boys' lacrosse state final against North Jersey champion Ridgewood at Ridge.

Occasionally, the call could be heard coming from the Moorestown sideline: Keep him left. Don't let him go to his right. "They thought I couldn't do it," Jake Dean said. "They were forcing me left all game because they thought I couldn't score with my left hand. But I did it. " Out of a timeout with 3 minutes, 48 seconds left in double overtime, Dean sprinted down the left wing toward Moorestown goalie Dan Willis. And with his left hand - his supposed weak hand - the Shawnee midfielder beat one of the state's top goalies, giving the Renegades a 4-3 win over heavily favored top seed Moorestown in Saturday's South Jersey Group 3 boys' lacrosse final.