Villa Maria

When Molly Scullion saw teammate Brittany Colombo hit a triple that one-hopped the fence in the first inning Thursday, she said to herself that she wanted to do that, too. Instead, the senior outfielder for Nazareth Academy did one better. She sent a pitch sailing over the center-field fence for a two-run home run a couple of innings later. Scullion's blast was one of many displays of hard hitting for the Pandas, as they continued to roll through the Catholic Academies league, defeating Villa Maria, 13-3, in a game called after five innings because of the mercy rule.

Lisa Mirarchi had been working with teammate Molly Namiotka on a behind-the-back bounce pass. On Thursday night, with her team leading by almost 20 points and a minute to go in the third quarter, she thought she had the ideal opportunity to try it. Both members of the Villa Maria Academy basketball team executed it perfectly. "I just went for it, and hoped for the best," Mirarchi said. The play, which stemmed from a Mirarchi steal and led to a layup for Namiotka, summed up the game for both players in a 57-38 victory over Phoenixville.

This time, Villa Maria didn't make it. The Hurricanes, champions of District 1, fell short in their bid for a third straight trip to the PIAA state Class AAA volleyball finals, losing yesterday in quarterfinal pool play to Greensburg-Salem and Conestoga Valley. Unionville, another Southern Chester County League power and the runner-up in District 1, also was stopped in the quarterfinals, losing to Mount Lebanon, Baldwin and Towanda after having survived a grueling day of preliminaries Friday.

Villa Maria field hockey coach Maureen Polley's voice had been growing fainter and fainter with each succeeding win in the PIAA Class AA playoffs. The Hurricanes' 1-0 overtime victory over Southern Columbia in the state semifinals Tuesday literally left Polley speechless. Sophomore Missy Sweeney scored the winning goal 2 minutes and 49 seconds into sudden-death overtime to propel Villa into Saturday's championship against Upper Moreland. The rematch with the team that beat Villa, 2-1, in the District 1 final will be held at Ursinus College at 1 p.m. Polley hopes she will be able to speak by then.

The losses were bad. The way Mount St. Joseph was losing was worse. A 2-1 loss in 10 innings to William Tennent last week started things off. A 1-0 defeat to Nazareth Academy and a 2-1, nine-inning loss to Merion Mercy left Mount St. Joseph's players with no nails left to bite entering yesterday's game at Villa Maria. "We couldn't lose another one-run game," Chiefs coach Jack Poole said. "It just cripples you. How much can you take?" As it turned out, Poole never got the answer to his question.

Because of wet weather, Villa Maria coach Kathy Quinn was unable to take her players outdoors for practice until three weeks ago, and the drills were limited to a different area of the soggy field each time. Then came spring break two weeks ago. Quinn and seven of her players - five of them starters - went on a trip to France, sans lacrosse sticks. The only exercise they got while sightseeing was going up stairs at every opportunity. "No elevators or escalators," Quinn said.

Villa Maria has completed its sixth straight undefeated league season in the Catholic Academies League, but the Hurricanes have no time to celebrate. Villa defeated Sacred Heart, 45-38, Tuesday, and all 15 Villa players got into the game. Heather Colvin led the team with 13 points, Eileen Butler had 12 points, and Lorraine Kaiser added 6 points and 12 rebounds. Now comes the harder part. After a game tomorrow against Bishop McDevitt, a Catholic League North power, the Hurricanes could play do-or-die playoff games Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week.

It was midway through the second half of the District 1 Class AA field hockey final Saturday at Wissahickon, and Villa Maria and Upper Perkiomen were stuck in a 1-1 tie. The Indians were taking their first penalty corner of the half, threatening to take the lead on a team that had won 18 straight games. But as soon as Upper Perkiomen inserted the ball into the circle, Villa senior flier Olivia Bolles took possession and dribbled down the field into Indians territory. The ball moved quickly into the circle and in the hands of junior Megan Parsons, who hit it in to break the tie. The Hurricanes kept the lead, and the momentum, for a 3-1 victory and a fourth district championship for their seniors.

Baseball DISTRICT 1 CLASS AAAA FIRST ROUND Penncrest at Council Rock North , 4 Council Rock South at Garnet Valley, 4 West Chester Rustin at Central Bucks South, 4 Wissahickon at Downingtown West, 4 Radnor at Cheltenham, 4 North Penn at Conestoga, 4 Pennridge at Great Valley, 4 West Chester East at Boyertown, 4 PUBLIC LEAGUE SEMIFINALS Frankford vs. Prep Charter at Ashburn Field, 1 GAMP vs. Franklin Towne...

Freshman Maddi Abbott struck out nine batters and recorded her 100th strikeout of the season on Wednesday afternoon to lead Villa Maria past host Mount St. Joseph, 7-0, in a Catholic Academies softball game. She allowed just three hits and walked one in seven innings. She has 102 strikeouts this season. Ches-Mont. Brigette Nordberg had just one hit, but it was a two-run double in the third to key Downingtown East's 4-2 win at Bishop Shanahan. Kristen Owens added a pair of hits and a run scored.

Olivia Nostrant and Jules D'Orazio scored five goals each on Tuesday afternoon and Lauren Thomas turned away five shots as Merion Mercy held on to top host Gwynedd Mercy, 15-11, in a Catholic Academies lacrosse game. Caroline Corzel added three goals and Katie Fitzpatrick recorded four draw controls and one goal. Also in the Catholic Academies, Isabella Balcer, Emily Ehret, and Christi Mischler scored three times each to propel Mount St. Joseph past visiting Villa Maria, 16-14. Marley Breslin and Meg McCabe added two goals.

When Molly Scullion saw teammate Brittany Colombo hit a triple that one-hopped the fence in the first inning Thursday, she said to herself that she wanted to do that, too. Instead, the senior outfielder for Nazareth Academy did one better. She sent a pitch sailing over the center-field fence for a two-run home run a couple of innings later. Scullion's blast was one of many displays of hard hitting for the Pandas, as they continued to roll through the Catholic Academies league, defeating Villa Maria, 13-3, in a game called after five innings because of the mercy rule.

Nearly a month into the 2013 outdoor season, most track teams are looking to produce solid and consistent times that will lead eventually to district qualifying. At Saturday's 13th annual Hurricane Track Classic, Upper Dublin showed that it's well on its way to accomplishing that goal. On a brisk and breezy day at Villa Maria, the Cardinals stood out by winning three events at the girls-only meet. Cydney Christian got the day started for Upper Dublin by winning the 100-meter dash in 13.14 seconds.

Behind Nora McCallion's five goals and two assists on Thursday, Notre Dame held off visiting Villa Maria, 9-7, in a Catholic Academies girls' lacrosse game. Courtney Donovan added three goals and one assist, and Delaney Tuite had two assists and a goal. Megan Parsons scored twice for Villa. Also in the Catholic Academies, Olivia Gannon and Christie Mischler scored four goals each and Mount St. Joseph rolled at Villa Joseph Marie, 18-3. Natalie Bohner, Emily Ehret, Meg McCabe, and Kaitlin Meister scored twice each.

Behind Nora McCallion's five goals and two assists on Thursday, Notre Dame held off visiting Villa Maria, 9-7, in a Catholic Academies girls' lacrosse game. Courtney Donovan added three goals and one assist, and Delaney Tuite had two assists and a goal. Megan Parsons scored twice for Villa. Also in the Catholic Academies, Olivia Gannon and Christie Mischler scored four goals each, and Mount St. Joseph rolled at Villa Joseph Marie, 18-3. Natalie Bohner, Emily Ehret, Meg McCabe, and Kaitlin Meister scored twice each.

When you lose four starters from a team that reached the quarterfinals of the state tournament, you don't necessarily enter the next season expecting a lot of success. But the more basketball Villa Maria played this girls' basketball season, the more the Hurricanes accomplished. By the time they captured the District 1 Class AAA title, they found themselves in the state tournament as an underdog and loving every minute of it. They won three straight games in impressive fashion.

When a team loses four starters from a squad that reached the quarterfinals of the state tournament, it doesn't often enter the next season expecting a lot of success. But the more Villa Maria played this season, the more the Hurricanes accomplished. By the time they captured the District 1 Class AAA title, they found themselves in the state tournament as an underdog and loving every minute of it. They won three straight games in impressive fashion. Their astounding effort continued Tuesday night at William Tennent.