Malvern

Charles Kelly keeps his lacrosse stick in his team's ice cooler. Kelly handles faceoff duties for the Malvern Prep lacrosse team. During summer tournaments last year, the weather was so hot it caused the head of his stick to bend back almost all the way to the shaft. The flexibility left him with a competitive disadvantage. He had to find a solution. "My dad came up to me and said, 'Why don't you try sticking it in the cooler? It will cool it off and help it stay in place,' " Kelly said.

Malvern Prep might not have the same overall talent as it did last season, when it went 31-5 overall and defended its Inter-Ac League baseball title. But things appear to be fine in the refuse-to-quit department. In Tuesday's Inter-Ac opener against Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, the host Friars climbed out of a 6-0 hole and, with nine runs in their last two at-bats, somehow triumphed, 9-7, in 2 hours, 34 minutes. "We're young this year," Malvern senior catcher Steve Robinson said, "but there's a lot of scrappiness in this team.

Malvern Prep may not have the overall talent it had last season, when it went 31-5 and successfully defended its Inter-Ac League baseball title. But things appear to be fine in the refuse-to-quit department. In Tuesday's Inter-Ac opener against Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, the host Friars climbed out of a 6-0 hole and, with nine runs in their last two at-bats, triumphed, 9-7, in 2 hours, 34 minutes. "We're young this year," Malvern senior catcher Steve Robinson said, "but there's a lot of scrappiness in this team.

Joe Poduslenko knows it won't be easy for Malvern Prep to repeat last year's success in baseball. The Friars lost six starters from a squad that went 31-5 overall and was perfect in Inter-Ac League play. "We're pretty young," the senior shortstop and leadoff hitter said. "We're going to have to find different ways to win. " Among the regulars who graduated were first baseman-pitcher Joe Ravert, now at La Salle; second baseman Drew Hayes (Navy); and centerfielder Nick Bateman (Winthrop)

Joe Poduslenko knows it won't be easy for Malvern Prep to repeat last year's success in baseball. The Friars lost six starters from a squad that went 31-5 overall and was perfect in Inter-Ac League play. "We're pretty young," the senior shortstop and leadoff hitter said. "We're going to have to find different ways to win. " Among the regulars who graduated were first baseman-pitcher Joe Ravert, now at La Salle; second baseman Drew Hayes (Navy); and centerfielder Nick Bateman (Winthrop)

INDIANAPOLIS - Ryan Nassib scanned Twitter during the NFL playoffs and noticed someone called the Philadelphia area "QB County" because Exton's Matt Ryan, West Chester's Matt Schaub, and Audubon's Joe Flacco were each playing. Nassib, who takes pride in his Philadelphia-area roots, enjoyed the reference. He will be the next local quarterback to join the fraternity, calling fellow Chester County natives Schaub and Ryan "great role models. " "We're from Chester County, but it's still the area," Nassib said.

A woman of grace and intellect who savored life by participating fully in it, Lilian Streeter Lucas Chance of Malvern once ran a biophysical research facility as well as a horse farm, all while managing 100 rental properties and raising eight children and four stepchildren. In her spare time, she gardened, cooked, and served for a time as president of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Ms. Chance died Wednesday, Feb. 13, of complications from pneumonia.

THERE'S A REASON Sean O'Brien primarily rubs elbows - almost till they bleed - with Uncle Chris at all family gatherings. They share the hoops kinship, folks. The O'Brien brothers displayed skill and variety while starring at La Salle High in the late 1970s/early 1980s, with the chain extending from Neil (baseball, shortstop at Temple) to Chris (point guard for '81 Catholic League champs, Drexel) to Doug (rowing, Arizona State). Sean tried to mirror his dad, Neil. Really, he did. But one day as a fifth-grader, though he was having success as a shortstop and pitcher, he came home and made an announcement that could have been a bombshell.

The last of junior forward Jeffrey Hagen's 15 points was the most important, as his final-second free throw sent 14th-seeded Malvern Prep to a 40-39 upset at third-seeded Friends' Central in the first round of the state Independent Schools boys' basketball tournament on Tuesday. The Friars hung around thanks to a stifling defense, holding Phoenix top scorer Karonn Davis to 11 points and 6-foot-4 freshman De'Andre Hunter to nine. After forcing a Hunter miss, Hagen was fouled with 0.9 seconds remaining and hit 1 of 2 from the line for the winning margin.