Sports Shorts

Morganville’s Alexandra Salani, a senior at the Ranney School in Tinton Falls, won her second straight New Jersey Independent Schools Athletics Association B Division State Cross Country Championship. The meet was held at the Blair Academy, Blairstown. Salani posted a 20:37 for the 5K race in successfully defending her championship. She is the first Ranney harrier to win back-to-back state championships.

Ranney finished third in the team competition and improvement on its fifth-place finish in ’03. With Salani leading the way in dual meets, Ranney went 6-0.

Caitlin Burton is a member of the 2004-05 Monmouth University women’s basketball team. She is a 6-2 freshman forward from Colts Neck High School.

Burton, an All-Freehold District selection, was a four-year letter-winner on the hardwood. During her career, the Cougars won the 2001 Central Jersey Group II championship and were runner-up in 2002 and 2004. She averaged 12 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists a game last year as the Cougars went 21-6.

The North Howell U11 Hurricanes, a travel baseball team, is looking for players for the upcoming 2005 season. Pitchers are preferred. For additional information, call (908) 217-8751.

The Manalapan Heat, an U10 girls soccer team, has been turning up the heat on the competition. Over the last three years, the Heat are 29-0-1 in the Premier Division of the Monmouth-Ocean Soccer Association and have outscored the opposition by a 133-12 margin while winning three straight MOSA titles.

The Heat are: Cara Boxer, Kylie Poklemba, Amanda Rosenberg, Brianna Mashel, Alexis Owen, Natalie DiLorenzo, Julie Dantoni, Kaitlyn Dolan, Hayley Bava, Michelle Rubino, Annette Snow and Taylor Totland.

Rob Poklemba is the coach of the Heat, with Keith Boxer and Steve Rosenberg the assistants.