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Jeff Manto, the former major league player who will manage the Lakewood BlueClaws in 2002, is offering hitting instructions over the next few months to area prospects. The lessons will be geared toward the serious baseball player, and will be conducted in the batting cages at GPU Energy Park, Lakewood. Manto will be assisted by New York Mets infielder Joe McEwing.

Manto, who was the BlueClaws hitting coach this past season, played 16 seasons in the big leagues with the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians and Colorado Rockies; he won a pennant with the Phillies and Cleveland. In his professional career, he hit 31 homers on the major league level, and 243 in the minors, retiring as the active home-run leader. Manto, who hit 79 homers in Buffalo with the Triple-A Bisons, became only the third player this summer in that organization to have his number retired.

Lessons will be offered Wednesdays from 4-8 p.m. One-hour sessions will be offered for individuals or groups of three, and interested parties must commit to at least three lessons. Teams of five to 10 people will learn for two hours and would commit to a minimum of four lessons. For additional information and for booking times, contact Director of Media/Public Relations Neil Solondz at (732) 901-7000, ext. 111. More information is available at jaffmanto.com.

Howell’s Tom Martin has started in all 10 games for the Boston College football team. The sophomore defensive tackle, who wears No. 90, has made 49 tackles, including 30 solo stops.

Four of his tackles have been for losses. The Eagles are 7-3 and bowl eligible. Last year, the Eagles won the Aloha Bowl in Hawaii.

Martin is a graduate of Howell High School where he led the Rebels to their last state playoff appearance (1996). He was an all-state selection his senior year and was one of the East’s most highly recruited players