Putting on the Pads, and the Flags

The 2013 football season is nearing, and it has teams at all levels, and leagues, ready to hit the field.

One team that can't wait is also set to defend their Non-Public Group II title. The Holy Spirit Spartans got off to a rough start in 2012, but righted the ship on their way to becoming champions. We sat down with seniors Ray Ellis, Jeff Steeb, A.J. Dawson and Taalib Gerald to find out why the expectations for this year's team couldn't be higher.

They may not be throwing on the pads and killing each other during two-a-days, but another group of local football players will be leaving it on all the field this fall. We welcomed representatives from the Mens Flag Football League of South Jersey into our Admiral Nissan Studios this weekend; find out why some of the area's best keep coming back to the league year after year.

Jason Lantz may be the man patrolling the Atlantic City Vikings sidelines with head basketball coach Gene Allen during the winter, but he takes on a different role when the weather gets a little nicer. Coach Lantz has the latest on the Atlantic City Summer League, including which local basketball standout dropped 49 points in his South Jersey send-off.

And a big congratulations to the Atlantic Shore Babe Ruth baseball team for advancing to the World Series in Purcellville, Virginia. It'll be their second appearance in three years after outscoring their opponents 52-3 during the Mid-Atlantic Regionals. It may be tough to improve on those numbers, but Coach Chris Iannuzzelli says this team can get even better. He joined the South Jersey Sports Report during batting practice to reveal the mindset going into the World Series, and explains why this Atlantic Shore team could likely be the best in the program's history.

Listen to this week's show:

Jason Lantz, Atlantic City Vikings assistant basketball coach

Mens Flag Football League of South Jersey

Chris Knott & Ed Charlton, Egg Harbor Township natives & members of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (N.Y.)

Chris Iannuzzelli, Atlantic Shore Babe Ruth Baseball assistant coach

Holy Spirit Spartans football

Check out the best sights from the Atlantic City Summer Ball League Instagram:

@ac_bballsummerleague

For more information on the Mens Flag Football League of South Jersey, visit their website here.

It’s all right here, on The South Jersey Sports Report. Listen every Saturday, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on 97.3 ESPN-FM or 973espn.com, and catch the expanded edition every Thursday night from 6-7 p.m.

Follow Tyler Donohue on Twitter @TDsTake