'Sno-ball' game a smash hit ALLENTOWN - Fourteen teams raised more than $3,000 for the Upper Freehold Regional Education Foundation during the first-ever "Sno-Ball" Softball Tournament fundraiser. Five teams from the Upper Freehold Regional Men's Softball League were among the men's and coed teams in competition, which took place Feb. 9-10 on Allentown High School's softball fields. The money raised at the game will help support programs in the Upper Freehold Regional School District. "Our first 'Sno-Ball' Softball Tournament was a smashing success thanks to the efforts of many people including the sponsors and, of course, the volunteers," James Derasmo, president of the Upper Freehold Regional Education Foundation, said. "Unfortunately, we didn't have snow for the tournament, but all participants had a great time and some friendly competitive rivalry, ultimately raising $3,000 in support of our 2008 grants program." This year's first and second place in the men's division of the tournament went to Upper Freehold's Golf Edgers and Monmouth Junction's South BrunswickWrecking Crew. This year's first and second place in the coed division of the tournament went to Plainsboro's Contes Restaurant and Freehold's The Goddard School. Each game, in single-elimination format, lasted five innings, and the batters faced one pitch. Home runs, which were limited to five per game, had to be selectively utilized by the teams, which provided for an interesting dimension to the games. The championship games were seven innings, and Derasmo awarded "bobble head" trophies to the top teams in both divisions at the end of game. "The tournament was truly a cooperative effort by the greatest volunteer workforce this community has ever seen," Derasmo said. "For example, staff from the Upper Freehold Regional School District made sure the fields were in excellent playing condition and volunteers operated the concession stand. I am truly grateful to everyone who helped out." Tournament sponsors included Dicks Sporting Goods, Paradise Pools and Spas, Merrill Lynch, UPS, Dina Battaglia CPA, Gloria Nielson GMAC Realty, La Piazza Restaurant, Joe'sAllentown Barber Shop, Jeffrey Ferrier's law offices,Mangat &Associates and the Andrew Petruzzi family. Derasmo said "Sno-ball" softball will be an annual fundraiser for the foundation. "For those long-range planners, please mark your calendars for Feb. 7, 2009, the weekend after Super Bowl XLIII, because that's the date of 'Sno-Ball' Softball Tournament II," he said. "Hopefully, we will get some snow." The Upper Freehold Regional Educational Foundation is a nonprofit coalition of the private, business and civic sectors, dedicated to promoting quality education by establishing, supporting and enhancing programs of the Upper Freehold Regional School District. For more information about the foundation, visit www.ufref.org.