Harrisburg

Re: "Hoeffel says Pa. job is no payback," July 12: Todd Mason's article on Joe Hoeffel's appointment to the Rendell administration implies that Hoeffel's appointment is nothing more than a political deal. What Mason overlooks is that Hoeffel has served admirably in Harrisburg and in Washington, and in each incarnation, was widely regarded as a smart, thoughtful, policy-oriented guy. In fact, when he previously ran for office, The Inquirer enthusiastically endorsed Hoeffel on more than one occasion.

RBI singles by Rich Thomson and Jason Ellison in the third inning helped the Lehigh Valley IronPigs top the Columbus Clippers, 4-2, last night in the International League. Terry Tiffee hit a solo home run for Lehigh Valley. Gustavo Chacin gave up four hits over six innings to get the win. Portland 12, Reading 1 READING - Phillies starter Joe Savery gave up six hits and three runs over five innings in the Eastern League loss against the Sea Dogs. Greenville 8, Lakewood 1 GREENVILLE, S.C. - Jered Stanley doubled home two of the Drive's three first-inning runs in a South Atlantic League win over the BlueClaws.

Some shots are so obvious, so easy, you wonder whether to even take them. But these clowns deserve it. Last July, as you may have heard, Pennsylvania lawmakers sneaked through pay raises of 16 percent to 34 percent for themselves - and concocted a shady gambit to collect the raises before the next election. Yet, before recessing, the lords of Harrisburg couldn't find time to act on another bill, one that would have subsidized life insurance premiums for Pennsylvania National Guard members summoned for active duty.

Pinch-hitter Harvey Brumfield hit a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning last night to lead the Reading Phillies to a 6-5 win over visiting Harrisburg in a double-A Eastern League game. Reading first baseman Ramon Henderson led off the 11th with a single, then went to second on a sacrifice by shortstop Greg Edge. Henderson went to third on a ground out by Bobby Joe Edmonds and scored on Brumfield's hit. Relief pitcher Chuck McElroy pitched the final 2 1/3 innings to pick up the win. Scott Service was the starter.

The Atlantic City Surf split an Atlantic League doubleheader against the Nashua Pride yesterday, winning the opener, 4-2, and losing the second game, 3-2. In the first game, a solo homer by Dario Delgado of the Surf tied the score, 2-2, in the bottom of the seventh. Raul Marval hit a walk-off two-run homer to win the game in the eighth. Reliever Alberto Castillo recorded the win for Atlantic City, getting the one batter he faced to ground out. In the second game, the Pride got solo homers from Kevin Haverbusch and Dante Bichette.

These are the pedestrian facts of Edward A. Schwartz's public life: As a former city councilman, he tried to tread the straight and narrow. And as the current director of the Office of Housing and Community Development, he has learned to walk a fine line. What may not be commonly known is that he's 46 as of this week, stands 5- foot-11, weighs 208 pounds, and walks with a pronounced list, as if his right shoulder were heavier than his left. He's the first to say he has never been in prime physical condition, which makes his promised walk from Philadelphia to Harrisburg May 17 all the more challenging.

Here's the deal, Girard College kids: The adults just have had more important things to do. You, the hundreds of students at the famous North Philadelphia boarding school, may have been puzzling over the school's future. But grown-ups in Harrisburg have been taking their time in examining a host of concerns raised last year by an Inquirer series. It's one year and counting since Pennsylvania House Republican Majority Leader John M. Perzel called for an investigation into the school's management by its governing body, the Board of City Trusts.

BISHOP JOSEPH McFadden had been the head of the Diocese of Harrisburg for nearly three years when he died yesterday morning, but many people in Philadelphia say the Overbrook native's hometown ties never weakened. McFadden awoke yesterday in a Philadelphia rectory feeling ill, then was taken to nearby Holy Redeemer Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:40 a.m., the Philadelphia Archdiocese said. The cause of death has not yet been determined. He was in town for a meeting of the Catholic Bishops of Pennsylvania.

HARRISBURG — At least five House lawmakers — Democrats and Republicans, from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh — lost their seats Tuesday in head-turning upsets in what would usually be predictable legislative primary races. Among those who fought down to the wire to hold on to their seats was House Speaker Sam Smith (R., Jefferson), who withstood a challenge by an anti-incumbent conservative by a whisper-thin margin. Longtime House Transportation chairman Rep. Rick Geist (R., Blair)

The Chester High basketball team stood together last night in the hallway, all with heads bowed, all mumbling the same word to each other: "Ugly. " It was so ugly, one of Chester's assistant coaches bolted out of the locker room and slammed the door behind him as Clippers coach Fred Pickett was still addressing his team. But here's the twist - Chester beat Harrisburg, 61-51, in the PIAA Class AAAA second-round state playoff game at Reading High's Geigle Complex to advance to the state quarterfinals Saturday.