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I knew the subject matter but had little idea how it would play out on the big screen and I have to say I was very impressed. In one hour Levine did a wonderful job of showing that Frank is demanding and intense but also letting you know that his players expect that and know it’s to make them not only successful on the field but off of it as well.
KEVIN WILLIAMS, Director, Shore Sports Network
Documentary Film – Trailer
South Baseball – The Spirit of Winning is a sponsored project of the New Jersey Media Arts Center, Inc.
Thank you to our generous donors!
GRAND SLAM FUNDER
- The Brion B. Applegate Trust
TRIPLE FUNDERS
- Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation
- Pine Belt Chevrolet – Chrysler – Subaru
- Tishman Construction Corporation
- Dr. Richard Levine & Diana Madaras
DOUBLE FUNDERS
- Paul Vecchione
- Sean Kauffman
- OceanFirst Bank
- Mike Lawroski
- Marty Donato
- Edward Grundhauser
- SERVPRO of Toms River
- Toms River Heating & Air Conditioning
- Chianese Dental
- Good Friend Electric
- Lotano Development
- Community Medical Center
- Chap Construction
- Dave and Scott Bassinder
BASE HIT FUNDERS
- Riverfront Dental Care
- Meadowbrook Industries, Inc.
- The Citta Foundation
- Fortunato Family
- Bruce Rush
- Affordable Senior Home Care
- Advanced PMR
- New Jersey Natural Gas
- Gluck & Allen, LLC
- Gould Family
- Tom Zorojew
- Joe & Sandra Sutaris
- Saker ShopRites, Inc.
- Herb Fisher
- Dick Read
- Devil Brownies
South Baseball – The Spirit of Winning
We produced an exciting film focusing on Toms River’s passion for baseball featuring Coach Ken Frank, NJ’s winningest high school baseball coach, and (in 2018) NY Mets third baseman Todd Frazier. South Baseball – The Spirit of Winning is the first major film to turn the spotlight on Toms River High School South and legendary Indians Baseball head coach, Ken Frank. Coach Frank not only is New Jersey’s winningest baseball coach, he also is a dedicated mentor who has had a profound impact on the lives of countless players during the past four decades. The 2017 season was his 40th year as head coach.
The film shows former players, many of whom regularly attend spirited games in Ken Frank Baseball Stadium, proudly watching their sons follow in their footsteps. It also includes interviews with sports insiders who share entertaining stories that gave rise to the legend of Coach Frank and Indians baseball. Interest in the film extends beyond sports fans at the Shore, as the documentary shows how tough love can help young people win in sports and in life.
The one-hour film highlights the remarkable link between Toms River and great baseball players. Todd Frazier, a South alumnus and star on Toms River’s 1998 Little League World Series Championship team, went on to play for several professional teams, including the New York Yankees and the New York Mets. He has played as a Major League All-Star, and was the 2015 Home Run Derby champion. Universities from around the country recruit from South not only because the players know the fundamentals of the game, the boys also have been shaped by Coach Frank into respectful, young men.
The film premiered April 8th, 2018 at the Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts at Ocean County College, and has been shown at several other screenings in the region.
Veteran television journalist Sandra Levine, a Toms River native and South alumna who has been nominated 10 times for regional Emmy Awards, produced the project. In 2014 her poignant, one-hour documentary, Heartbreak & Healing After Sandy, aired regionally on PBS.
The film is a sponsored project of the New Jersey Media Arts Center, Inc., NJMAC is a 501(c)3 affiliated with Rutgers University dedicated exclusively to the non-commercial exhibition of independent, classic, international, experimental, and progressive cinema.