Upper Moreland

After years of riding to other townships for firing practice, the Upper Moreland police are getting a range they can call home. "We're really happy about it; it's something we've needed for a long time," said Lt. Carl Robinson, who spearheaded the search. The range is on the grounds of the Willow Grove Summer Day Camp on Davisville Road. Robinson said it would become available in the next few months. The need for a range is a practical one, Robinson said, allowing officers to stay on patrol while they train.

Lower Moreland boys' soccer coach John Oberholtzer recently said that what he likes best about his team is that it always seems to find a way to win. "I saw that quote in the newspaper and it made me think about my own team," said Upper Moreland coach Jim Kilmer. "Well, we're just the opposite. We keep finding ways to lose. " This has been one of the most disappointing seasons Kilmer has endured in the 23 years he has been at Upper Moreland. Monday afternoon, the Bears suffered a 1-0 loss to Suburban One American Conference Freedom Division rival Hatboro-Horsham, with Matt Harrar's third-quarter header accounting for the game's lone goal.

Upper Moreland coach John Scola would like nothing better for his field hockey team than to win the PIAA District 1 Class AAA title. But Scola remembers back to the spring when his Golden Bears softball team put so much emphasis on gaining the district title that it was emotionally spent in the first round of the state tournament and was ousted almost immediately. So, faced with a similar situation this fall, Scola vows not to let the same fate befall his current squad.

After dropping a 7-0 match to William Tennent on Monday, Upper Moreland coach Alan Hallman wasn't quite sure what to expect the next day, when his team took on Bensalem. And apparently some of his players weren't, either. But they still were able to come away with a 6-1 win. Highlighting the victory were comeback wins by Mike Quigley at fourth singles and Sean Casey and Shannon Casey at third doubles. Quigley came back and dumped Ashish Chawla, 0-6, 6-1, 6-3. The Caseys toppled Casey Minton and Jon Swenson, 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3)

Dave McInerney, a hard-hitting catcher at Upper Moreland who will be a senior this fall, has made a commitment to the University of Cincinnati. Last season, McInerney batted .432 with 17 RBIs, 15 runs, 9 doubles, 5 home runs, and a .510 on-base percentage. He was an Inquirer third-team all-Southeastern Pennsylvania selection and first-team Suburban One League American Conference pick.    

Norristown wrestling coach Mark Harner is quick to point out that his Eagles, for all their singular stars, are not a great dual-meet team. They lack depth. They're more of a tournament team. Wednesday night reinforced that notion but also showed why Norristown has the armaments to at least make a run at what would be its first District 1 team title since winning back-to-back crowns in 1996 and '97. The Eagles dropped Upper Moreland, 45-31, in their home gym, improving to 3-0 (both overall and league)

BASEBALL Team Rec. Records are through Tuesday. Last week's rankings in parentheses. 1. Strath Haven (1) 19-0 2. Bonner-Prender. (3) 15-3 3. C.B. East (4) 15-4 4. La Salle (5) 16-4 5. Malvern (7) 24-7 6. Neshaminy (2) 15-4 7. Unionville (9) 17-3 8. W.C. Henderson (NR) 15-5 9. C.B. South (8) 12-5 10. Coatesville (6) 15-5 Under consideration (listed alphabetically): Archbishop Wood (13-5), Boyertown (13-8), Methacton (16-5), Pennridge (14-5)

Hatboro-Horsham senior Grant Opalisky did not hesitate. Upper Moreland's flame-throwing righthander, Robert Knox, already had ended one rally and was about to strand another runner on third base in the seventh inning to force extras. So when Knox's 0-2 fastball eluded catcher Pat Driscoll and sailed to the shallow backstop, Opalisky immediately broke for home. He scored before the Upper Moreland battery could recover, and disappeared into a mosh pit of teammates with a 5-4 nonleague win Saturday.

    The Montgomery County Election Board hit a major snag Thursday when it learned it might be too late to move several polling places. Under state law, counties must post a public notice 20 days before the election if any polling place is to be moved. The May 21 election is now 19 days away. After recessing to consult with their solicitor, the board members voted unanimously to approve the relocation of eight sites. Election Board Chairwoman Leslie Richards called those "unavoidable changes" that qualify for an exception to the 20-day limit.

Upper Moreland baseball coach Ernie Rehr said he would put his top of the lineup up against anyone else's. Just not on Friday afternoon. The top of the order stumbled, but the bottom of Rehr's lineup pulled through and propelled Upper Moreland to a 3-2 walkoff win against Wissahickon in a Suburban One American game. Kyle Irwin, the team's No. 8 hitter, stroked a single to center field that easily scored No. 7 hitter Nick Corbett from third base. Both players finished 2 for 3. "It was just one of those days where it didn't work out for them," Rehr said of the top of the lineup.

The Upper Moreland woman who stabbed the boyfriend was charged Wednesday with murder after the victim, who called 911 to report the incident, died Tuesday night from his wounds. Candice Phillips, 48, is being held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. On Tuesday at about 8 a.m., Upper Moreland Township Police went to the Wellington Apartments at 2529 Horsham Rd., in response to a reported stabbing at the apartment Myron McClinton, 54, shared with Phillips. A 911 caller Tuesday identified himself as McClinton and told the dispatcher, "I've been cut twice by a knife from, uh, by Candice Phillips.

This time, Upper Moreland didn't need Matt Kohn to be a one-man show. Saturday night at Villanova, boosted by an across-the-board effort, the fourth-seeded Golden Bears fought past third-seeded Pope John Paul II, 57-49, for their first PIAA District 1 Class AAA boys' basketball title. Kohn, who had poured in 28 points in Wednesday's semifinal win over Octorara, was held to two points in the first half. He finished with eight. "All my teammates stepped up," the senior point guard said.

This time, Upper Moreland didn't need Matt Kohn to be a one-man show. Saturday night at Villanova, boosted by an across-the-board effort, the fourth-seeded Golden Bears fought past third-seeded Pope John Paul II, 57-49, for their first PIAA District 1 Class AAA boys' basketball title. Kohn, who had poured in 28 points in Wednesday's semifinal win over Octorara, was held to two points in the first half. He finished with eight. "All my teammates stepped up," the senior point guard said.

Upper Moreland's Matt Kohn has wavered a bit about pursuing basketball or baseball as his primary sport in college. "I think it's going to be basketball," the senior guard said. "There's more energy, movement, and excitement. Baseball is more of a lazy man's sport. " Kohn was anything but slow-moving in Wednesday night's PIAA District 1 Class AAA semifinal vs. Octorara. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound whirlwind registered 28 points in leading the Golden Bears to a 60-55 triumph at Plymouth Whitemarsh.

Upper Moreland's Matt Kohn has wavered a bit about pursuing basketball or baseball as his primary sport in college. "I think it's going to be basketball," the senior guard said. "There's more energy, movement, and excitement. Baseball is more of a lazy man's sport. " Kohn was anything but slow-moving in Wednesday night's PIAA District 1 Class AAA semifinal vs. Octorara. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound whirlwind registered 28 points in leading the Golden Bears to a 60-55 triumph at Plymouth Whitemarsh.