Frankford

Philadelphia firefighters took two hours Sunday to control a stubborn blaze in a building that forced the evacuation of 10 people in the city's Frankford section. Firefighters were called to the scene in the 4400 block of Paul Street just before 11:30 a.m. and soon called in a second alarm. The fire was under control around 1:30 p.m. Ten people were evacuated from an adjacent building and taken to a nearby church. No injuries were reported. The fire remained under investigation.

A firefighter leaves the scene of a Frankford house fire which sent an unidentified woman to the hospital yesterday. The blaze occurred in the 4400 block of Elizabeth Street.

When play began last week, the Frankford soccer team was unbeaten and in first place in the Public League. By week's end, the Pioneers (11-6-2 overall, 5-2-1) had lost twice and finished the regular season in third place. The first loss didn't figure to happen, but Parkway defeated Frankford, 4-3, on Nov. 5. It wasn't the real Frankford squad, however. Coach Bill Snyder decided to sit seven starters because of a discipline problem, and that obviously played a major role in the loss.

It was just before noon Tuesday when a famous Hollywood actor left his trailer on Torresdale Avenue in Frankford, strutted across Kinsey Street and disappeared inside a factory to shoot scenes for his violent mob thriller. If Colin Farrell had made a left on Kinsey and walked up a few blocks, a trail of dried blood would have led him to the door of the Kinsey Street Cafe. Inside, he would have heard some real dialogue about violence in the city, the kind that doesn't end when the credits roll.

Entering yesterday's home-field showdown with Frankford, Germantown football coach Charlie Hicks was hoping for a test by which to measure his team's improved play over last season. Hicks was still unsure about the Bears, who struggled to a 4-6, fourth- place finish in the Public League's Division B in 1992, but had opened this season by ripping through their first four opponents. "This is a pivotal game for us; it'll show us where we stand in the league," Hicks had told his players.

Philadelphia police are investigating the shooting deaths of a mother and her son in their Frankford home early Sunday/ Killed were Dorothy Flora, 54, and her son Shane Ferguson, 25, police said. Police entering the residence on the 4600 block of Leiper Street about 1:15 a.m. Sunday discovered Flora in a first-floor bedroom and Ferguson in the living room. A medic pronounced both dead at 1:25 a.m., police said. Each had been shot repeatedly. Police were looking for a known suspect.

Fourteen titles were tallied, and 14 tales were told at yesterday's PIAA District 12 wrestling tournament. Each District 12 and Public League wrestling champion took a separate path to the top at George Washington High. Both the winner and runner-up in each weight class continue their seasons at the regional championships on March 4-5 at Norristown High. Frankford, which has won nine straight Public League dual-meet crowns, was also the team tournament champion with 287.5 points.

Scanning the list of Public League football champions over the years, one school continues to come up. Frankford. If anything, tradition will be on Frankford's side Saturday, when the Pioneers (7-3) meet Bartram (8-1) for the Public League Championship at Northeast High (2 p.m.). Frankford has won 18 Public League titles outright, its last two years ago under John McAneney, who took over for the legendary Al Angelo. "They might have tradition," Bartram coach Tom Bazis said, "but at the same time, the typical Southwest Philly kid has no respect for tradition.

Had the Public League football final between front-runner Frankford and steady-playing Dobbins been scheduled a month ago, the prognosticators would have flocked to Frankford's bench. Then came the teams' last two games: confidence builders for Dobbins, spine shakers for Frankford. In today's league championship game at 2 p.m. at Northeast High, the Pioneers (10-1), coming off a loss, enter floundering in their championship gait, and once-perceived dark horse Dobbins (9-1)

The Frankford basketball team viewed this week's eight-team Seagull Classic as the perfect way to show the experts that coach Vince Miller's Pioneers deserve a ranking among the nation's best high school teams. The tournament at St. Joseph's University included nationally acclaimed St. Nicholas of Tolentine (N.Y.) - last year's national champion at 30-1 - imposing Long Island (N.Y.) Lutheran and local powerhouse Chester. Frankford, ranked No. 1 in The Inquirer's Southeastern Pennsylvania Top 10, got past Tolentine in the semifinals Tuesday.

By Ted Silary Daily News Staff Writer Frankford High long has billed itself as "The Home of Champions" and, let's face it, though the tag is meant to be all-inclusive, football is the sport with the highest profile. But, hey, look over there. There has been a changing by the guard and he's now sporting a baseball uniform. Is he justified? You might say his thought process is definitely in the ballpark. On Friday at Richie Ashburn Field, hard by I-95 at the back of FDR Park, in South Philly, Frankford's diamond squad racked up quite the achievement.

Frankford didn't take a ho-hum approach to capturing its second straight Public League baseball championship. The players mobbed winning pitcher Rafael "Omar" Cruz after the final out, coach Juan Namnun received a watercooler dousing, and outfielder Hector Cerda, with trophy in tow, joyfully circled the bases. "Each title is special and unique in its own way," said Namnun, who has guided the squad to three crowns in five seasons. "This group is one of my favorites, probably because a lot of the seniors have been on the team for four years.

HER Neighbors instantly recognized the Frankford woman accused of setting 10 fires in the community in recent weeks. "That's Noelle," gasped one 30-year resident of the area, who gave her name only as Toni, when she saw a mugshot of Noelle Bilbrough, 35. Bilbrough was arrested Tuesday and charged Wednesday in a string of alleged arsons that began in mid-April and occurred up until the day of her arrest, when police say she lit a fire near...

AH, THERE'S nothing quite as exciting as witnessing a championship game. Wait. Yes, there is. It's called playing in one. In fact, that's even better. Friday, Hector Cerda will try to help Frankford High win a second consecutive Public League baseball title in a 3 o'clock tilt, to be played at Richie Ashburn Field in South Philly's FDR Park, against Girard Academic Music Program. And he'll especially appreciate the moment because, just a few days ago, he was not an active member of the program.

AH, THERE'S nothing quite as exciting as witnessing a championship game. Wait. Yes, there is. It's called playing in one. In fact, that's even better. Friday, Hector Cerda will try to help Frankford High win a second consecutive Public League baseball title in a 3 o'clock tilt, to be played at Richie Ashburn Field in South Philly's FDR Park, against Girard Academic Music Program. And he'll especially appreciate the moment because, just a few days ago, he was not an active member of the program.

Philadelphia firefighters took two hours Sunday to control a stubborn blaze in a building that forced the evacuation of 10 people in the city's Frankford section. Firefighters were called to the scene in the 4400 block of Paul Street just before 11:30 a.m. and soon called in a second alarm. The fire was under control around 1:30 p.m. Ten people were evacuated from an adjacent building and taken to a nearby church. No injuries were reported. The fire remained under investigation.

Ellie Murray's run-scoring single in the fifth inning proved to be enough on Thursday afternoon as Conwell-Egan held off visiting Lansdale Catholic, 1-0, in the Catholic League softball quarterfinals. Rebecca Maziarz came home on the single and finished the day 3 for 3. Gina Massaro pitched a shutout and struck out 10. Also in the quarterfinals, Erica Ragazzone struck out nine batters and drove in three runs to help lead St. Hubert past visiting Archbishop Carroll, 5-2. Nikki Michalowski beat out a ground ball in the seventh inning as Kerri Dadalski scored the winning run and Archbishop Ryan topped visiting Cardinal O'Hara, 5-4. Public.

The Public League softball playoffs started Monday with a rare individual performance as Frankford's Moriah Cedeno drove in 13 runs during the Pioneers' 20-9 first-round victory over visiting Science Leadership. Cedeno, a freshman shortstop, batted with the bases loaded three times and produced two grand slams and a three-run triple, and also added a two-run single. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations' record book, the national record for RBIs in a game is 16, set in 1983.

Niager Mathis and Amy Hicks each took three individual gold medals, and the pair guided Swenson to a sweep of the boys' and girls' team titles at the two-day Public League track championships which concluded Thursday at Northeast. The Lions piled up 91 points to beat Northeast by eight points in the boys' competition, and Swenson nearly doubled runner-up Paul Robeson's total (84) in the girls' meet with 167 points. The field events had been held Wednesday at Germantown. Mathis dominated the sprints, winning the 100 meters in 10.76 seconds, the 200 in 21.99, and the 400 in 50.37.

The intersection at Frankford and Cottman Avenues in Northeast Philadelphia is closed after a car crash took out the traffic light about 7 a.m. today. Motorists are being advised to expect delays. Check back for updates.