Holmdel Hornets try to get over the hump
The Holmdel High School girls basketball team has an experienced crew back, along with several talented newcomers, as it tries to get over the .500 mark under new coach Kelly Burns. A year ago the Hornets went 12-12 and Burns promises an aggressive, uptempo style of play designed to keep opponents off balance. “I’m still looking for the right combinations, though I’ve been pretty impressed with what I’ve seen so far,” the coach said. “The girls are working hard and they seem to want the system and their catching on fast.” While the Hornets are a relatively small team, Burns has plenty to work with. Seniors Kim Fiorentino and Dana Graziano give Holmdel an impressive onetwo scoring punch. A year ago Graziano, a guard, averaged 15 points and Fiorentino, a small forward, was right behind with a 15-point average. Both girls are also threats from three-point range. Another key returner is point guard Melissa Martorelli, who made a splash last season as a freshman, averaging 10 points and distributing the ball well. The sophomore can hit the three and is a good defender as well. Mary Beth Lisberel and Melissa Tages, a pair of senior guards, saw significant playing time last winter and Burns believes they will team with Fiorentino and Graziano, and guard Melanie Gaddis, who moves up from the junior varsity, to provide a solid leadership group. “We’re working hard to develop more of an inside game and I’m looking to maintain a fast pace,” Burns said. “If things work out, we could end up using anywhere from an eight- to 12-player rotation.” Junior Brianna DiAntonio provides an inside presence off the bench, while sophomores Stephanie DeSousa, a guard, and Alex Diekmann and Kay Nelson give the Hornets depth up front. Mary Mayell and Katie Toomey, another pair of sophomores, provide additional backcourt depth. In addition, a trio of freshmen guards Ally Mnich, Shannon Nelson and Priscilla Wong may see some varsity minutes. Burns said she is planning to have the trio split its time between the varsity and JV teams. To help her team prepare for the Shore Conference’s tough Class A Central schedule, Burns set up a tough scrimmage schedule that included the likes of powerful Immaculate Heart Academy, as well as strong local teams such as Colts Neck. “We’re going to show different looks throughout the season,” Burns said. “I want the girls to have a versatile style of play, particularly on defense. I really like to mix things up defensively.” Burns’ approach has proven quite effective in her prior coaching positions; she joins Holmdel after spending the last five years as head coach at Teaneck High School, compiling a 91-35 record. A year ago her Teaneck team reached the NJSIAA North 1, Group III finals and in both 2005 and 2006 captured its division title. Teaneck qualified for both the state and Bergen County tourneys during each of Burns’ seasons at the helm. During her 11-year coaching career, Burns has also turned around struggling programs at Cresskill High School and Dwight Morrow Academy in Englewood. “Our team already has a lot of potential and talent and they showed that last year,” Burns said of her Hornets. “That doesn’t mean they don’t have a lot of work to do to get where I want them to be. They understand that and they’re very motivated.” Holmdel opens the season at home on Friday against divisional foe Red Bank Regional and will visit another division rival, Raritan, on Monday. The Hornets then return home to meet Elizabeth Dec. 20. During the holiday break Burns’ team will host the Bayshore Tournament, which will also include RBR, Monmouth Regional, Shore Regional and Cardinal McCarrick. BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer Girls basketball team finished 12-12 last season 
Eduardo Nunez slammed a three-run pinch hit homer and Andrew Benintendi collected four hits to power the Boston Red Sox to a 8-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game One of the World Series on Tuesday. The first World Series meeting between the two iconic franchises in 112 years had been a seesaw battle until Nunez stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the seventh and took Dodgers reliever Alex Wood over the Green Monster, cashing in Benintendi and J.D. Martinez.The Dodgers and Red Sox and a capacity crowd will be back at Boston’s Fenway Park on Wednesday for Game Two of the best-of-seven series.With the teams sending out their aces, Game One had offered the promise of a marquee pitching duel between Red Sox seven-time all-star Chris Sale and Dodgers three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw.But both starters were colder than the crisp fall weather, lasting just four plus innings.Kershaw, who has never lived up to his Cy Young credentials in the post-season, endured another rough outing, surrendering five runs on seven hits to take the loss.Sale yielded three runs on five hits.Red Sox reliever Matt Barnes was credited with the win, working just one inning and giving up one hit.Benintendi, the first player with four hits and three runs in a World Series debut, said the Red Sox came in with a plan on how to handle Kershaw.“We had a solid approach against him tonight and for the most part we executed what we wanted to do,” he added.“Getting on the board early and often, that’s what we’re trying to do and it gives us a better shot at winning.“Up and down the lineup there’s not an easy out. We’re going to grind out at bats.”DANGEROUS OFFENSEThe Red Sox wasted no time revving up the chilled Fenway faithful with Benintendi and J.D. Martinez connecting on run scoring singles to stake Boston to a 2-0 first inning lead.Los Angeles answered right back in the top of the second with a solo home run from Matt Kemp, then tied it up in third on a Manny Machado soft roller to left field.The Red Sox would retake the lead 3-2 in the bottom of inning, Martinez slamming a two-out double off the center field wall scoring Steve Pearce.The rollercoaster contest continued into the fifth as Sale opened the inning by issuing a leadoff walk to Brian Dozier.That would be the end of the game for Sale as Boston manager Alex Cora wasted no time going to his bullpen for hard-throwing Barnes.Boston would not escape the inning without surrendering a run as Machado ground out to score Dozier and pull level at 3-3.But once again the Red Sox would hit back, scoring a pair at the bottom of the same inning after driving Kershaw from the game.With the bases loaded, Dodgers reliever Ryan Madson was able to limit the damage to a Xander Bogaerts force out scoring Mookie Betts and an RBI single from Rafael Devers.The Dodgers loaded the bases with one out in the seventh but could manage only a single run, Machado bringing across his third of the game on a sacrifice fly that trimmed the Boston advantage to 5-4 before Nunez put the contest out of reach.“They are a dangerous offense, especially when you give them extra outs,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “I thought we pitched them okay but that’s a dangerous offense over there.”
By Frank PingueNEW YORK, Aug 26 (Reuters) – Roger Federer gave India’s Sumit Nagal a harsh introduction to Grand Slam tennis as the five-time champion weathered an early storm for a 4-6 6-1 6-2 6-4 win on Monday to reach the second round of the U.S. Open.When the match began it was Federer who surprisingly looked intimidated under the Arthur Ashe Stadium lights as he sprayed errors all around the court but the Swiss great woke from his slumber in time to turn the match resoundingly in his favour.“I thought I played like my beard today, I was rusty,” Federer, who was sporting a few days worth of stubble, said in his on-court interview.“I’m going to clean it up for my next match.”World number 190 Nagal, who has never earned a tour-level victory and only qualified for the year’s final Grand Slam last week, came out swinging and even put a rare look of incredulity on the faces of those inside third seed Federer’s box.The 22-year-old Indian used impressive court coverage and sent heavily-spinning shots over the net during his dream start but his legs started to look more wobbly as the match wore and Federer righted the ship.Still, the start to the match for former world number one Federer, who is chasing his first New York title since 2008, could hardly have been worse as he made 19 unforced errors in the first set.Federer, playing in his first Grand Slam since he failed to convert two championship points on his own serve against Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon, was down 0-40 while serving for the match but won six of the next seven points to hold for the win.The 38-year-old Swiss only played two hardcourt matches in his leadup to the U.S. Open and admitted that he may have been a little rusty adjusting to the hardcourt but chose to focus on the positives.“Maybe it’s not a bad thing to go through a match like this. It was very similar at Wimbledon when I dropped the first set there, as well, in the first round,” said Federer.“At the end you look at the last three sets, and they were good. That’s encouraging.”After the match Federer heaped praise on his opponent for the performance he managed to deliver on one of the sport’s biggest stages.“Never easy to come out and play your best. Even though it’s kind of what you live for, you dream about, playing on the big stage. So I think he did that very well,” said Federer.“He knows what he can bring. That’s why I think he’s going to have a very solid career.”Up next for Federer, who is seeking a record-extending 21st career Grand Slam title, will be Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur, who beat Frenchman Elliot Benchetrit earlier on Monday.Federer owns a 2-0 record in career meetings with Dzumhur, having beaten him in the third round at the 2015 French Open and in the first round at Wimbledon the same year.
Teachers and other staff of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) Secondary School in Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara, are awaiting the capture of a reputed robber in connection with a brazen hit on the institution during the mid-day hours of Thursday, May 25.Based on reports reaching Guyana Times, staff members were at a seminar in another section of the school when the man marched into the staffroom and rummaged through the belongings of the teachers. It was only when the secretary walked into the room that an alarm was raised and the alleged robber made good his escape, carting off several wallets containing cash, identification cards, and bank cards among other valuables.The Saraswati Vidya Niketan Secondary SchoolA source disclosed to this publication that the man ran out of the compound and fled, as efforts to apprehend him proved futile. It is alleged that he (hereafter) executed a similar attack on Leonora Primary School, stealing from two of the teachers. According to reports, a total of seven teachers were victimised in the ordeal; five from SVN and two from the Leonora school.An official from SVN disclosed that a report has since been made to a neighbouring Police station where they submitted a photograph of the offender which was snapped by someone at the Leonora Primary School.However, information surrounding the status of Police investigation remains sketchy.
FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – The Fort St. John RCMP are looking for a suspect after the most recent robbery at the Scotiabank in Fort St. John.Yesterday at around 4:34 p.m., the Fort St John RCMP received a report the bank had been robbed.A lone suspect entered the bank and demanded money from the bank tellers. Police say the suspect produced what appeared to be a black colored handgun.- Advertisement -The suspect then fled through the back door and down the alley past a local shelter where he was seen possibly entering a small black SUV type vehicle.Witnesses told police that the suspect was wearing a black balaclava and a 2 piece blue safety gear outfit, similar to the ones worn by oil and gas workers.Police are asking anyone who may have seen an individual running in a two piece blue safety gear outfit with a black toque or balaclava on, to please call them at 250-787-8100 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (tips).Advertisement 
Fort St. John RCMP say the suspect that robbed the Scotiabank in Fort St. John yesterday could have been wearing a suit similar to the one in this photo
Several studies recommend caseloads of about 40:1. About 2,000 agents monitor parolees, said Seth Unger, a Corrections Department spokesman. Their caseload in March, he added, averaged 89:1, which was better than last year’s average of 91:1. “Parole agents are hardly able to do the job now like it should be done. All they’re able to do is tread water,” said Chuck Alexander, a vice president of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, the union that represents the state’s 2,800 parole agents. The increase in parolees, along with a higher caseload for agents, “exacerbates that situation and significantly endangers the public,” he said. SACRAMENTO – While the number of parolees continues to rise across California, the number of agents who monitor them remains stagnant, raising questions about how well the state can oversee former inmates. State law authorizes a funding ratio of one parole agent for 70 parolees in most cases. But the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s parole reform has put 10,000 more parolees on the street since June 2006, an 8.4 percent increase. Instead of hiring more agents and maintaining the ratio, the state hasn’t kept up with filling job vacancies for parole agents – at least 200 at last count. The new parole policy has resulted in more overtime for agents in Southern California, where parolee population has increased by 7,000 and resulted in caseloads as high as 100 parolees per agent, said Scott Johnson, a guards-union official. Prison officials, however, say that despite the increase in the number of parolees, agent workloads have actually decreased since last year because parolees this year require less supervision. The state’s parole chief denied that the public was at risk. In an interview last week, Thomas Hoffman, head of the prison system’s adult-parole division, said most of the parolees had violated technical rules and were not considered dangerous. The situation appears to be even more pronounced in Los Angeles, where the number of parolees has increased at a faster rate than other parts of the state, according to Corrections Department data. In the Los Angeles region, the number of parolees grew this year by more than 10 percent, to 39,591. Within the San Fernando Valley, the number grew even faster, by 12.7 percent, to 3,909 parolees. In the rest of Southern California, the number of parolees grew by 11.5 percent, to 33,780. The statewide average was an increase of 8.6 percent, to 123,904. Some critics believe parole officers follow inconsistent standards in different parts of the state when deciding whether to return parolees to prison. Sen. George Runner, R-Lancaster, said the state needs to spell out more specific and consistent guidelines for parole officers. Some officers might return an offender to prison for a minor offense, such as being late to an appointment. “There’s no doubt in my mind there is inconsistent application in parole areas,” Runner said. “I do believe we should have a much more uniform process in terms of what those violations are.” Runner’s district, the Antelope Valley, has traditionally attracted higher numbers of parolees, in part because of the cost of living is lower than in most other parts of Los Angeles County. Parolees are supposed to be returned to the county where they lived before incarceration. In the Antelope Valley, the number of parolees grew by about 7 percent last year, to 1,905. Daily News Staff Writer Harrison Sheppard contributed to this report. egarcia@mercurynews.com 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set!
Sven Ulreich 1 Bayern Munich have completed a deal for Arsenal target Sven Ulreich, which could mean a departure for former Liverpool favourite Pepe Reina.Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is a big fan of the 26-year-old who has been Stuttgart’s first-choice keeper since 2010.And Wenger was heavily linked with a move for the German as a potential replacement for Wojciech Szczesny two summers back.However he did not complete the move and Ulreich remained with Stuttgart – although now Bayern have prised him away and signed him up for three years.He is set to act as deputy for No.1 Manuel Neuer, pushing Reina down to third in the pecking order.However the Spaniard is now set to leave the Bundesliga giants and return to former club Napoli, according to reports.
Harry Redknapp believes England are serious contenders to win Euro 2016.The Three Lions came roaring back to beat Wales in an electric British derby on Thursday and take command of Group B.Redknapp is yet to see an outstanding side in France, and he reckons Roy Hodgson’s men are in with a real shout of going all the way.Speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, the former QPR, Tottenham and West Ham boss said: “It is wide open.“We have seen the last few years Germany in a tournament or Spain in a tournament where they have been different class, but I don’t think there is anybody [outstanding at this tournament].“England have got a good group of players. I have said all along Engand have got a good as chance as anybody, and that is how it is still. It is wide open.“With this group of players, I wouldn’t be happy with a quarter-final… I think we can go all the way, I really do. But then I say that every tournament!“We have got good players. You see the lads who come off the bench, they would walk in almost any team.“There are lads that are not even getting a game – the Wilsheres and all these people – they would get into most teams as well. We have got a good squad.”England will get a more favourable last 16 draw if they beat Slovakia on Monday and seal top spot in Group B.Redknapp expects Hodgson to make a few changes after Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Vardy impressed off the bench against Wales, but believes whatever side the England boss puts out will be capable of getting the win.“We should have enough to win it,” he added.“I think we will win the last game – the pressure is off really now.“He will go with the two lads he brought in and [Marcus] Rashford came on and did well. So he might decide to have a look at somebody else – he might feel [Jack] Wilshere will need a game. But you will be looking to make sure you win it and finish top of the group.”
A deal at the City Ground had been expected to be finalised this week Nottingham Forest owner Fawaz Al Hasawi has announced that a prospective takeover of the club by an American consortium has fallen through.Al Hasawi said the deal, which had been expected to be finalised this week, was “not in the interests of the long-term future of our club”.Forest are ailing under the Kuwaiti’s ownership, and currently stand just two points above the Championship relegation zone after losing their last five matches in all competitions.It had been hoped by supporters that the interest of the group headed by businessman John Jay Moores might spark a timely reversal of fortunes at the City Ground.In a statement, Al Hasawi said: “It is with great regret and disappointment that the club announces today that, despite much speculation in the media, all negotiations in regard to a partial sale of the club to US owners have come to an end.“We feel strongly that we have acted in good faith on behalf of the club and its fans and that such a deal as it stands is not in the interests of the long-term future of our club.“Thank you for your continued support at this difficult time for the club.”Al Hasawi bought the club from the estate of the late former owner Nigel Doughty in 2012. 1
Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona made it three LaLiga wins from as many games with a 5-0 thrashing of city rivals Espanyol at the Nou Camp.Defender Gerard Pique and Luis Suarez added late goals, the latter set up by debutant Ousmane Dembele, as Barcelona maintained the only 100 per cent record in the division.Messi broke the deadlock after 25 minutes as he collected a through-ball from Ivan Rakitic to fire home.Messi added a second after he burst forward and his pass rebounded to Jordi Alba. Alba cut the ball back and Messi was in the right place to stab it wide of goalkeeper Pau Lopez.Espanyol’s Pablo Piatti was unlucky not to pull a goal back when his sweetly-struck left-footed volley came back off the post just before half-time.Messi completed his hat-trick after 65 minutes as he was in the right place to fire home from Alba’s cut-back.With four minutes to go Pique rose highest to head in a corner from Rakitic. Substitute Dembele set up Suarez for the fifth with a low cross which the Uruguayan slid back across goal into the right corner to complete the rout. Lionel Messi grabbed a hat-trick in the Barcelona derby 1