Local Sports

Mount hockey open for business

The senior tri-captains for Mount St. Joseph field hockey (left to right): Katie Burke, Casey Pollock, Jess Mulhern (photo by Tom Utescher)

by TOM UTESCHER
At the beginning of last week it was clear that Mount St. Joseph Academy is taking a very serious approach to the 2005 field hockey season, as a throng of hopefuls reported to training camp for three-a-day workouts in the August heat. Tina Reinprecht and Lois Weber return as co-coaches for the Mount, and they have a new assistant in recent Penn graduate Kate Murphy. A product of Norwood Fontbonne Academy and Mount St. Joe’s, Murphy was a tri-captain for the 2004 team at Penn and helped lead the Quakers to their first Ivy League championship in 11 years.

This Thursday (8/25), a strong scrimmage schedule for the Magic commences with a trip to the Lehigh Valley for a tune-up against nationally-ranked powerhouse Emmaus High School. Last year the Green Hornets stung the Mount, 4-1, in the first round of the PIAA tournament, then continued on to the state championship, winning the title game over Coughlin (Wilkes Barre), 4-0.

Mount St. Joseph won the Athletic Association of Catholic Academies (AACA) last fall and came in fifth in PIAA District 1, ending up with an overall record of 23-3.

Fundraiser at Blair Christian Academy

The basketball team at Blair Christian Academy will be hosting a fundraising car wash on Saturday, Aug. 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the school’s parking lot. Blair Christian Academy is located at 220 W. Upsal Street.

The fundraiser will benefit the middle school and the first-ever high school basketball programs. The prospective athletes will participate during this fundraising event. The funds will benefit the middle school team with uniforms and league fees. The funds will also help the high school basketball team purchase uniforms and attend tournaments in Beaver Falls, Pa. in December and Erie, Pa. in March.

STARTING LINEUP: Darren Davis, of Mount Airy, stands at shortstop with the Philadelphia Phillies’ Jimmy Rollins during the national anthem at the Aug. 21 home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Davis was chosen as part of the Phils’ “Starting Nine” program, where nine kids are selected at random as they enter Citizens Bank Park for the opportunity to stand with a Phillies player. “Starting Nine” takes place every Sunday home game. On Sunday, the Phillies won 4-3.