June 2, 2004
Brittany, football lights & two more sad farewells
By TOM WILLIAMS
Sports Columnist
Brittany Sedberry notched another spot in the OCHS record book over the weekend while winning two
individual state track titles.
Sedberry joins Carla Roberts, Mandi Wolicki and Megan Hartman as the only three Raider girls to win two
state track titles. Sedberry became the first to win twice during the same season.
In addition, Sedberry and Renee Tomlin, who also won a state title over the weekend, joined Wolicki as the
only Ocean City sophomores to win girls state championships.
Sedberry also bettered her own school record in the 3200 meters. Tomlin, who set a new school mark in
the 800 meters in winning the South Jersey title, actually ran a little slower in winning the state title.
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Both the City Council and the Board of Education last week approved their share of the cost of installing
lights at Carey Stadium. The contract should have been signed by the time you read this and the
completion date is August 6.
That means Ocean City High School will play night football at home for the first time in school history.
The Raiders should open the 2004 season against Bridgeton in a non-conference game on Friday, Sept.
10. Bridgeton replaces Academy Park, PA, on the OCHS schedule. OC will also host Atlantic City,
Oakcrest and Egg Harbor Township this season. The good news for those of us who love those daylight
games at Carey Stadium is that the Atlantic City game will be played on Friday afternoon to avoid
conflicting with Yom Kippur.
Though no official plans have been announced, it is likely that the Ocean City Hawks youth football team
may play some of its home games under the lights. It also opens up the possibility that the South Jersey
Barons soccer team might return to Carey Stadium in 2005.
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Two more men who played a role in Ocean City sports died recently.
Al Burch was one of the early forces behind the Ocean City Youth Athletic Association. A friendly guy with
a sly smile, he was generally laid back. But once, he got very upset when his oldest son, John, became
the Barry Bonds of the late 1950s. One OCYAA coach decided to walk John every time he came up, a
rather silly decision in an activity that exists to give kids a chance to play. His father was not happy with
that decision.
John, who was a three-sport star in high school and went on to a successful career in the Navy, was
followed at OCHS by Al, Jr., who kicked the game-winner in a one-point victory over Pleasantville in football
and still holds the school record with 13 assists in an OCHS basketball game. Young Al went on to
become a head football coach at two South Jersey schools.
Jack Bittner was, in addition to being Ocean City’s mayor, an active part of the city’s recreation
department for years. He was a highly competitive player in the old college basketball league and later
helped organize those leagues as a recreation staff member.
Bittner’s son, Scott, was a successful basketball player at OCHS, setting three-point shooting records
that were only recently broken. He finished his high school career at St. Augustine Prep before becoming
a big success at Wheeling Jesuit. Scott now runs Schooners in Somers Point, which his father purchased
while Scott was in high school.
Al Burch and Jack Bittner are two men who contributed to the progress of sports in Ocean City, both
through their own efforts and those of their sons. They will be missed.
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