Hazlet Crush U9s enjoys a winning holiday       The MNJYSA Hazlet United S.A. Crush celebrated their holiday weekend at Manalapan Soccer Club's 21st Annual Memorial Day Tournament where they were victorious as they matched skills with four MOSA (Monmouth-Ocean Soccer Association) teams in the U9 boys blue flight. More ... Anglers hit paydirt with season's best fishing       Ro n N uzzolo Fish On Capt. Steve from Reel Fantasea Charters, Barnegat Light, reported Back Bay fishing remains on fire. Dave Hook, with girlfriend Becky Wilson, was out for nonstop action, snagging large blackfish up to 9 pounds and also caching striped bass as well. More ... Sports Shorts       St. Mary's Athletic Association (Middletown) will be holding on-line sign-ups for 2007 summer basketball at www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1444587. Grades 2-8 will play weeknights from July 2-August 2. Cost is $75 for one child, $115 for two or more in a family. In-person sign-ups w... More ... Rockets put another fine season in the books BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer       Despite a late-season batting slump, the Raritan High School girls softball team battled its way to a 13-10 mark and finished third in the Shore Conference's Class A Central division. In addition, the Rockets qualified for the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II tournament and reached the ... More ... Sports Shorts       Washington College senior catcher Mike DeBartolome (Middletown South) won two awards at the 2006-07 Washington College Department of Athletics Awards Ceremony held on May 3. DeBartolome won the Thomas Reeder Spedden Medal, which is presented to a male and female student-athlete for academic s... More ... Esposito takes on new challenge as coach Former Middletown North star leading one of GMC's top programs BY SHAWN LAYTON Staff Writer       METUCHEN - The road to St. Joseph's High School for first-year head coach Paul Esposito has been an interesting one, to say the least. The 1996 graduate of Middletown High School North went on to play shortstop for Fairleigh Dickinson University before professional baseball stints ... More ... Alexander, Scurry lead Matawan to CJ II title BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer       Area track and field athletes dominated the NJSIAA Central Jersey Groups II and III Championships held last weekend at Monmouth Regional High School. But none did more than Matawan's Donna Alexander, who picked up three titles and helped the Husky girls top Raritan, 70.50-57, for the ... More ... Local U9 AAU team wins state title       The U9 Jersey Shore Wildcats girls team won the 2007 NJ State Championship for AAU Basketball last Monday, holding off the Central Jersey Hawks' late comeback. More ...