PHOENIXVILLE SOFTBALL

The Phoenixville softball team opened its 2008 season with a 3-1 Pioneer Athletic Conference victory over St. Pius X Wednesday afternoon at Manderach Park in Limerick Township, which is St. Pius X’s home venue.
The game was a battle between two strong teams who split their two games a year ago. Both clubs are expected to be strong again this spring.
The Phantoms used two pitchers, sophomore Kelly Foedinger and sophomore Molly Ferguson, both of whom saw action last year. Foedinger pitched five innings and Ferguson the final two frames.
Phoenixville also has two more pitchers, senior Courtney Heming, who is being counted upon for starting shortstop duty, and junior Shannon Kryder, who is up from the junior varsity team.
Coach Joe Bogus plans to use all four hurlers as needed. He said he will not be afraid to substitute one for another one.
The Phantoms played strong defense and also made the most of their four hits as Heming swatted an inside-the-park, two-run home run to left field for the margin of difference in the final outcome.
This is the type of all-around play the Phantoms will need in order to compete in the balanced PAC-10 race.
The ballclub also has strong leadership since Heming is a four-year starter and two-year captain. Plus some of the other players have added to the important leadership role.

Posted by
Barry Sankey

Phuture Phantoms Basketball Championship

Sports Poll

PHOENIXVILLE BOYS TENNIS 2008

The vaunted Phoenixville Area High School boys tennis team opened its spring season with a 7-0 shutout over St. Pius X in a Pioneer Athletic Conference (PAC-10) meet at the Leo J. Scoda Courts Tuesday afternoon.
The Phantoms, coached by Leo Scoda, needed just 45 minutes to dispose of the Winged Lions with all matches decided in straight sets. Phoenixville dropped just seven games on the day in the seven matches, three singles and four doubles encounters, and four of those Pius X games came in the first set of the first doubles match.
Phoenixville has a young squad this year, according to Scoda, with a varsity lineup in the opener that consisted of five seniors, four juniors and two sophomores. However, Scoda said that lineup could change due to upcoming challenge matches for spots on the ladder.
Phoenixville had sophomore Steve Tassone at first singles, senior Ranney Moran at second singles and junior John Reading at third singles against Pius X. Reading played third singles last year and Tassone played fourth singles behind graduated stars in Kyle MacLelland and Tom McAvoy.
The Phantoms received a better test during the annual two-day Kiwanis/Boosters Tournament at the Arthur Ashe Tennis Center in the East Falls section of Philadelphia Wednesday and Thursday. The other three teams in the competitive field include North Penn, West Chester East and Christopher Dock.
After that, Phoenixville faces a strong Methacton team in Fairview Village Tuesday afternoon, March 25. Methacton is in its last season in the Suburban One League and will be switching to the PAC-10 next year. The Warriors blanked youthful Spring-Ford, one of the better PAC-10 schools, 7-0, in their non-league season opener Monday.
Since Phoenixville and Methacton both have a number of underclassman players, this match will be a good indication of what to look forward to in the league match in 2009.
Phoenixville has a team that appears it will improve as the season progresses. The Phantoms still loom as the team to beat in the PAC-10 for 2008.
The very strong youth program in Phoenixville and offseason work should provide the necessary dividends for the Phantoms.

Posted by
Barry Sankey

Sports Poll

Signing Day For Phoenixville High School

JULES BLACKWELL

Phoenixville professional featherweight boxer Jules “The Ghost” Blackwell fought to his second straight draw Saturday night at the famous Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Blackwell’s opponent was Korean super bantamweight champion Jae Sung Lee, and he and Blackwell fought to a draw in a six-round battle with a three-way split decision of 59-56, 56-59, 57-57 by the judges at ringside who scored the bout.
Two weeks ago to the day, Blackwell fought to a draw against Lucian Gonzalez, a Puerto Rican from Reading, at the newly opened Cisco Arena in the Route 422 Business Center in Oaks. That was also a six-round encounter.
Blackwell, a tall left-hander who is the product of the Phoenixville Area Police Athletic League (PAL) program at the Civic Center on Main Street, is now 7-0-2 with the two draws the first two blemishes on his otherwise perfect record.
The exposure in New York City was good for Blackwell’s rising career, but perhaps two tough, six-round fights in a two-week period was too much to ask of the 27-year-old boxer. These two draws were only the second and third six-round tussles of Blackwell’s promising career.
Blackwell must adjust to difficult, better foes as he climbs up the ladder to a higher ranking in front of bigger crowds. He needs to keep up the pace as much as possible from the beginning to the end of each fight.
Any letdown can spur the opponent to counter and score with punches of his own, regardless of whether he is a better overall fighter than Blackwell or not.
Blackwell needs to heed the advice of his manager, Jim Deoria, and head trainer, John Mulvenna. Perhaps these two draws will prove to be good, solid learning experiences for Blackwell as he takes on future fights.

Posted by
Barry Sankey

Shirk signs with Duke Track and Field

SPRING SPORTS

Spring sports teams at area high schools began practice on Monday, March 3, under fine weather conditions.
However, since that time there has been a lot of cold, wind and rainy days.
That is what makes spring sports so difficult. The weather is so unpredictable for all sports that are played outdoors: boys tennis, boys and girls track & field, girls softball, baseball and boys and girls lacrosse.
There is only so much work that can be accomplished indoors. Teams must prepare themselves for outdoor game conditions. Offseason work helps in this situation, but there are also many student-athletes who play multiple sports and must adjust to the different skills that are necessary in different sports.
Even when it is not raining, playing field conditions must be considered as well as court surfaces for tennis. Track surfaces can also be a problem although most schools now have all-weather tracks to help deal with the elements.
There is limited practice time to get ready for scrimmages and non-league games, if they are able to be fit in with the weather, before the start of league games in the third week of drills and workouts.
Spring sports must also deal with other intangibles, like upcoming graduation for seniors who are also winding up their college plans and other plans for next year; the annual prom, class trips and other school trips, spring plays and musicals.
With all of this going on as obstacles, the achievements of these spring coaches and student-athletes are that much more significant, especially for the squads and individuals who are able to achieve success.

Posted by
Barry Sankey