Pop Warner, officials butt heads over helmets BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       KEYPORT - Representatives of the local Pop Warner league say politics is preventing their players from getting new helmets. The matter came up at the Sept. 18 Borough Council meeting. At that time, Pop Warner volunteer Bob Burlew asked why the league was not given enough funding to purchase the ... More ... HHS girls looking for a threepeat BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer       The Holmdel High School girls tennis team will be looking to win its third straight Shore Conference Tournament championship when the competition begins this afternoon. Thus far, Holmdel has defeated Manasquan 4-1 and scored 5-0 triumphs over several teams, including Red Bank Regional, Raritan an... More ... Battling for the ball      ERIC SUCAR staff Keyport's Laura Valencia (l) and Shore Regional's Marquerite Chavez (r) battle for a loose ball during the first half of the game at Keyport High School, which Shore Regional won 2-0. More ... Colt harriers pass first big test of 2007 BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer       Tom Heath looked at the Bowdoin Park Classic in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Saturday as a barometer for his Christian Brothers Academy cross country team. "We'll find out where we are," Heath said prior to the race. What he found out is that his Colts are in pretty good shape for a run at the Nike Team ... More ... We get by with a little help from our friends      ERIC SUCAR staff Keyport's Bridget McCann (r) gives goalie Stephanie Kaplan a hug after saving a goal during the second half of the game against Shore Regional on Thursday. More ... Rutgers soccer roundup BY DOUG McKENZIE Correspondent       The Scarlet Knights, ranked 12th in the nation, took on the third-ranked team from Santa Clara University and the country's top team from Stanford in a two-day span, losing both games, but proving their mettle in the process. More ... Raritan field hockey struggles again BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer       After struggling through a 2-15 season last fall with an eye on this season, a barrage of injuries and illnesses have hampered the Raritan High School field hockey team this time around. The Rockets are playing without six starters, including midfielder Kerri Costello and fullback Kristin McKeeve... More ... Breaking away from the pack      ERIC SUCAR staff A line of boys jumps off to the lead at the start of the Sophomore Boys 5K race at the Battle of Monmouth Class Meet held at Battleground State Park in Manalapan on Saturday. More ... Fishing is solid and getting better RON NUZZOLO Fish On       Weakfish and striped bass are showing up along the coast in flurries from Raritan Bay to Barnegat Bay. Porgies are showing up along the local piers in big numbers, and plenty of slammer blues are still patrolling the coastline in pursuit of peanut bunkers. Bluefish have been fattening up before t... More ... Sports Shorts       Hazlet United Shooting Stars U17 girls Monmouth Ocean Soccer Association Premier level seeks dedicated players born after Aug. 1, 1990 to play upcoming tournaments and/or spring 2008 season. Please contact Mike Ligo (732) 787-4454 or email ligo178@aol.com for additional information. More ...