May 3, 2007 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

Local Sports

Springside out-slugs Crusaders
by TOM UTESCHER

Springside’s Devin McInerney hit a two-run triple that drove in the winning run against Episcopal. (Photo by Jimmy J. Pack Jr.)For more photos visit www.chlocalphotos.com

On several occasions when Springside School seemed on the verge of breaking open last Wednesday’s non-league softball game, the Lions handed runs right back to their hosts from The Christian Academy, keeping the Crusaders in contention.

Taking a precarious 11-9 lead into the seventh inning, the Lions (4-4 overall, 1-4 Girls Inter-Ac League) scored three times at the top of the frame, then held the line on defense to take away a 14-9 victory. The Christian Academy (TCA), which had 13 hits to Springside’s 14, slipped back to the .500 mark, at 3-3 on the season.

A day earlier, Springside secured its first league victory of 2007, overcoming visiting Episcopal Academy, 5-4. After two innings, the Lions led 2-1 thanks to a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the first, and an RBI hit by Teghan Boyle tacked on another point for the locals in the third.

EA tied the contest at 3-all in the top of the sixth, but after the home half began with a ground-out, Springside’s Natalie Klotz and Lauryn Kesselring each drew a walk. The runners advanced to second and third on a sacrifice grounder by Erica Swan, setting up a two-run triple down the left field line by Devin McInerney. Episcopal got one run back in the last of the seventh, but the Lions hung on for the win.

Late drama vaults CHA Blue Devils to victory
by John O’Reilly

CHA’s Mike Christiansen had two walks in the game against Central High School. (Photo by Jimmy J. Pack Jr.)For more photos visit www.chlocalphotos.com

Through the first five innings of their game last Thursday, Chestnut Hill Academy was looking nervously at the scoreboard, trailing their rivals.

Clutch hitting and base running in the sixth was all it took, however, to steal a victory from visiting Central High School (4-5).

After letting up three runs in the first two innings, CHA buckled down to shut out Central for the rest of the game for a 4-3 come from behind win to raise their season record to 15-2. Coach Stanley Parker was impressed by their resilience.

Not large, but definitely in charge
by TOM UTESCHER

COMPACT COMMANDERS Mount St. Joe’s eight varsity coxswains line it up (left to right: Faith Zaki, Meghan Cardell, Jane Mieczkowski, Alicia Elliott, Devon Stewart, Tori O’Malley, Nicole Weinrich, Gina Perri). Behind, to provide perspective, are varsity eight rowers Meg Kehan (left) and Meredith Weber. Coxswain? A coxswain or cockswain was at first the swain (boy servant) in charge of the small cock or cockboat that was kept aboard for the ship’s captain and which was used to row him to and from the ship. The term has been in use in England dating back to at least 1463. With the passing of time the coxswain became the helmsman of any boat, regardless of size. [Naval Historical Center]

In referring to them as “the little cheerleaders,” a former editor of the Local expressed a popular, if uninformed, perception of the responsibilities of the coxswain in the sport of crew.

S’side golf falls prey to Owls
by TOM UTESCHER

The combination of a limited schedule and a spate of bad weather made for a late start to the 2007 golf season for Springside School, and it wasn’t until early last week that the Lion linksters got their first taste of interscholastic competition.

Springside quads clean up at NJ champs
by TOM UTESCHER

The gold medals for both the girls junior varsity and varsity quad events at the New Jersey State Rowing Championships made a trip across the Delaware River thanks to Springside School, which won both events on the Cooper River course outside of Camden last Saturday afternoon.

CHA golf takes two from Episcopal
by TOM UTESCHER

Early last week the Chestnut Hill Academy golf team swept its home-and-away matches with Episcopal, and for the victorious Blue Devils the second half of the season series was a lot more challenging than the first.