Darren Cooper

Sports Columnist at The Record (Bergen County)

Articles

Softball: After two weeks, elite teams emerge in North Jersey Top 25 rankings

1 week ago | northjersey.com | Darren Cooper

Mother Nature has not done softball teams any favors in North Jersey so far. We've seen entire days washed out by the rain and cold, including a 1 vs. 2 match-up between Immaculate Heart and Old Tappan. My Top 25 rankings stays relatively intact from last week. We just haven’t had many games. No wonder everyone goes to Florida. Three new teams joined the party this week. The big surprise last week was River Dell, which upset Ramsey.
VOTE for the North Jersey Softball Player of the Week for April 7-13

1 week ago | northjersey.com | Darren Cooper

After another fun week of the high school football season, it's time to look back on the best performances. Read about the players who stood out last week and let us know who you think should be the North Jersey Player of the Week in the poll at the bottom of this page. Voting closes at 5 p.m. Thursday. Kyla Berger, Glen RockThe junior did it on offense and in the circle for Glen Rock in a pair of important wins. Against St. Mary, she went 3-3 with a double and scattered six hits.
Harrison NJ girls flag football becomes a dynamo despite no boys team

2 weeks ago | northjersey.com | Darren Cooper

HARRISON − Football in Harrison is alive and well. It’s just that now, the Blue Tide logo wears a white belt with two flags around its waist. The quarterback throws the ball flat-footed, if she throws it at all. Most importantly, Harrison wins almost all the time.
VOTE for the North Jersey Softball Player of the Week for March 31-April 6

2 weeks ago | northjersey.com | Darren Cooper

After an exciting start to the high school softball season, it's time to look back on the best performances. Read about the players who stood out last week and let us know who you think should be the North Jersey Player of the Week in the poll at the bottom of this page. Voting closes at 5 p.m. Thursday. Audrey Amoruso, Indian HillsAmoruso went 3-0 in the circle, with 19 strikeouts in 21 innings pitched.
VOTE for the North Jersey Softball Player of the Week for March 31-April 6

2 weeks ago | portclintonnewsherald.com | Darren Cooper

After an exciting start to the high school softball season, it's time to look back on the best performances. Read about the players who stood out last week and let us know who you think should be the North Jersey Player of the Week in the poll at the bottom of this page. Voting closes at 5 p.m. Thursday. Audrey Amoruso, Indian HillsAmoruso went 3-0 in the circle, with 19 strikeouts in 21 innings pitched.
High school softball previews

3 weeks ago | muckrack.com | Darren Cooper

Take a team-by-team look at local softball teams. BIG NORTH CONFERENCEIndependence DivisionWayne Hills will look to outslug opponents with one of the best all-around players in Passaic County in junior catcher Ava Connolly. The Patriots bring back nine starters, but need to play clean defense to be a contender in the league. West Milford graduated a big group of seniors that made an impact.
Softball: Preseason North Jersey Top 25 rankings heading into 2025 season

4 weeks ago | northjersey.com | Darren Cooper

These are the official Preseason North Jersey Top 25 rankings. When I looked back at my way-too-early rankings that I did last June, it helped jog my memory, but things change. I was struck by the number of transfers in North Jersey softball, but that’s high school athletics in America in 2025. My rankings are based on a series of ever-changing factors. Early on, head-to-head results matter more than anything else. As the season goes along, the trophy case matters.
Maritime festival features music, art in Madisonville

1 month ago | nola.com | Darren Cooper

The Maritime Music and Arts Festival brings a Jazz Fest vibe to the northshore with six different bands of all genres playing all day long. This year's festival rocks out on March 29 in Madisonville Pine Street Park starting at noon, with the first band, Rhythm Brothers, beginning at 1 p.m. Tickets are $20. "We want to grow this all the way to the riverfront," said Lori Marcus, festival coordinator.
Athletic directors want answers on Anthony Knox controversy, but what can NJSIAA say?

1 month ago | burlingtoncountytimes.com | Darren Cooper

The DAANJ Convention in Atlantic City is a New Jersey athletic director paradise with seminars and presentations for multiple days. Need a new turf field? A scoreboard? New weather gizmo? They got it all. This year, though, the athletic directors want some answers. On Wednesday afternoon, the leadership of the NJSIAA will meet with the ADs on hand at the Director of Athletics Administrators of New Jersey convention.
The Anthony Knox fallout shows what's wrong with HS sports in 2025 | Cooper

1 month ago | northjersey.com | Darren Cooper

The crowd at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City can be brutal. I’ve seen it. They’ve booed state champions out of the building, usually unhappy with the tactics used in the state finals (stalling) or perhaps miffed at a referee’s call or two. Anthony Knox has probably seen it, but we won’t get to see him cheered or booed as New Jersey’s fifth four-time state champion next weekend.

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