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Spring is a busy time of the year in scholastic athletics.
The final segment of the school term includes baseball, softball, boys tennis, girls lacrosse, boys lacrosse, and boys and girls track & field.
At Phoenixville Area High School, all except the boys lacrosse team have their practices and games at the school site. The Phantoms’ boys lacrosse team works out at the Annex on the campus of Valley Forge Christian College (VFCC), located off of Charlestown Road.
The teams have been practicing since Monday, March 8. There have been practice sessions and some scrimmages since that time.
The Phoenixville boys tennis team opens on Wednesday, March 24, with a non-league match at West Chester Bayard Rustin, the third and newest of the public schools in West Chester.
The first big day of sports activity is Friday, March 26. The softball team visits West Chester Henderson. The boys tennis squad travels to Downingtown West. The girls lacrosse team is at home against Great Valley. The boys lacrosse team is on the road against Marple Newtown.
The track teams open with the Phoenixville Relays at Washington Field on Saturday, March 27, at 9 a.m.
The baseball team leaves Saturday for a week-long trip to Orlando, Fla, where the Phantoms have scheduled three games plus practice sessions.
Phoenixville will play Massapequa (New York) on Monday, March 29, at 3 p.m. The Phantoms take on Dublin Jerome (Ohio) on Tuesday, March 30, at 10:30 a.m. The trip concludes with a game against Landon (Maryland), a private school, on Wednesday, March 31, at 1 p.m.

Phoenixville Area High School’s boys basketball team has started the 2009-10 campaign under new head coach Charles Thompson and his assistant, Brett Bauer.
Thompson starred at Phoenixville under the late coach George Rocco and played Division I college basketball at the University of Pittsburgh in the early 1980s. He formerly served as an assistant coach with the Phantom freshman team as well as the summer travel team.
Bauer played at St. Pius X High School and is now attending Drexel University. Brett’s brother, Evan Bauer, is a member of the Pottstown High School boys basketball squad.
The Phantoms are off to a 1-1 start in the Pioneer Athletic Conference with a victory over Upper Perkiomen and a loss to Pottstown. In the season-opening George Rocco Tip-Off Tournament at Phoenixville, the Phantoms defeated Haverford and bowed to Wissahickon. Their game at home against Academy Park Monday night was postponed due to the weekend snowstorm. New athletic director Tony Palladino said the game is expected to be rescheduled.
Phoenixville’s boys will be participating in the Marple Newtown Holiday Tournament Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 29-30.
Phoenixville has a veteran squad with senior guard Corey Gordon, 6-5 senior forward/center Harrison Deyo, senior forward Jamie Hennessy and senior forward/guard Mike Matson leading the contingent. Junior guard Nick Jones is the other member of the starting lineup.
The top reserves include 6-5 junior forward Mike Jones, junior forward Jake Lynch and freshman guard Marcus Howell.

Phoenixville and Spring-Ford collide in their annual Pioneer Athletic Conference (PAC-10) Thanksgiving Day morning football game Thursday at 10 a.m. at Washington Field.
Both the Phantoms and Rams have had up-and-down seasons and would like to cap the 2009 campaign on a high note.
The Phantoms and Rams both enter the contest with 3-8 records, although they both played competitive ball in most of their games, especially on defense.
In its last outing, Phoenixville defeated Kennedy-Kenrick, 35-6, on a Saturday afternoon at Norristown’s muddy Roosevelt Field. Spring-Ford was beaten by Upper Darby, 7-0, on a Friday night at Spring-Ford’s Coach McNelly Stadium.
“It is like this every year, no matter what the circumstances,” said Phoenixville coach Bill Furlong. “We need that game for something. Right now we are tied in records.”
Both the Phantoms and Rams have had their bright moments in a few victories and other quality showings against top opponents.
“We’ve been two different teams throughout the year,” said Furlong. “It will come down to which team shows up on Thanksgiving. If it’s the team from the last two games (10-6 loss to District 1 Class AAA finalist Pottsgrove, Kennedy-Kenrick), it should be a good game and we will play well. They (Rams) are a good team.. We have to make sure it’s that team that shows up. Against Pottsgrove, the kids played well all the game. Kennedy-Kenrick, the kids played well. Our offensive line, skill positions and defense played well, but not on special teams. That’s it.”
Junior Dan Kain made an impression by kicking five extra points for the Phantoms with no previous kicking experience.
The Rams are coached by Gary Rhodenbaugh.
“We have to keep working the next week and a half to get ready for Thanksgiving,” Rhodenbaugh said following the Upper Darby contest.
“Our defenses have played well,” Furlong said. “We are similar in that we held teams, but at times we haven’t scored enough points. We have similar woes.”
The Phoenixville and Spring-Ford teams will be honored by their community Rotary Clubs atthe annual joint luncheon Wednesday at 12 noon at Robert Ryan’s at Columbia Station in Phoenixville.

Phoenixville’s football team has its work cut out tonight as it faces PAC-10 leader and unbeaten Pottsgrove at Washington Field at 7 p.m The Phantoms (2-5, 2-7) are coming off a 15-7 loss to Pottstown last week while the Falcons (7-0, 9-0) hammered Upper Perkiomen, 62-20, in their last outing last Friday night.
Pottsgrove needs a victory to clinch at least a tie for its second straight PAC-10 championship as well as the home-field advantage as the No. 1 seed throughout the District 1 Class AAA playoffs.
Pottsgrove, which is coached for the 21st year by Spring-Ford High School graduate Rick Pennypacker, has already scored 347 points (38.6 avg.) while allowing just 81 markers (9.0). Both marks are best in the area.
Phoenixville has scored 114 points (12.7) while surrendering 168 counters (18.7).
Falcon junior quarterback Terrell Chestnut (5-11, 175) has scored 15 touchdowns and two extra points for 92 total points. Pottsgrove junior running back Maika Polamalu (6-0, 205) has scored 14 TDs with four extra points for 88 points. Junior fullback Kayvon Greene (6-2, 210) has scored nine TDs with four extra points for 58 points.
Polamalu has rushed for 930 yards on 99 carries (9.4) while Greene has 57 carries for 703 yards (12.3) and Chestnut 87 rushes for 646 yards (7.4). Phoenixville’s Sam McQuiston, who scored the team’s TD last week, has 112 rushes for 531 yards (4.7).
Phantom junior quarterback Tom Romano has completed 37 of 77 aerials (48.1 pct.) for 464 yards with three TDs and three interceptions.
Pottsgrove has been without senior first team all-state linebacker Preston Hamlette, who doubled at fullback, with an injury, but Greene has filled in very well, especially in recent weeks. The Falcons’ defense is led by senior end Justin Oliveri (6-1, 205), tackle Greene and senior Scott Madl (6-0, 195) at outside linebacker, who each had more than 100 tackles last year.
Chestnut and Polamalu, both Division I prospects, use their speed and big-play quickness to headline the secondary.
“We just have to play more consistent,” said Phoenixville coach Bill Furlong. “We have nothing to lose. We have to play consistent. We are not worrying about who we are playing or the last game. All the staff and kids will be proud if we play our best game.”
He spoke about the Pottstown game in which the Trojans earned their first victory of the season at Grigg Memorial Stadium.
“We didn’t play well early,” said Furlong. “By the time we were getting things better, it was too late. We played a good second half. We got some things going, but we have to do it the whole game. They (Trojans) played well early. They did a great job of controlling the ball. Their quarterback (Jeff Endy) threw the ball well. We were outplayed.”

Phoenixville travels to Pottstown’s Grigg Memorial Stadium Friday night to face the winless Trojans in PAC-10 football action.
Phoenixville (2-4, 2-6) is coming off a 21-12 loss to Upper Perkiomen while Pottstown (0-6, 0-8) fell victim to Perkiomen Valley in the second half, 28-21.
The Trojans led the Vikings 14-7 after the first quarter and 21-14 at halftime before being outscored 14-0 in the second half.
“They (Trojans) have scored on everyone,” said Phoenixville coach Bill Furlong. “Their offense is as good as any in the league. Our offense hasn’t been good. Their defense hasn’t held up, but they have scored points. They have plenty of offensive weapons. They have some size on the line. They have a couple real big guys. We have to play better and more consistent. We have to eliminate the mistakes.”
Pottstown’s quarterback is junior Jeff Endy (5-9, 155). The running backs are Marc Smith and sophomore Malik Brinkley (5-8, 165).
The Trojans are in their third year under head coach Brett Myers. Endy completed 3 of 7 aerials for 61 yards against PV. Junior wide receiver Dawon Matthews (6-1, 175) caught two of those throws for 46 yards.
Smith rushed for 83 yards on 17 carries with three touchdowns covering, 4, 2 and 34 yards. and Brinkley totaled 125 yards on 16 tries. The tight end is sophomore Cory Hueber (6-0, 165), who blocked and recovered a punt last week. Junior Kyle Dentler booted three extra points.
Up front the Trojans field the likes of senior tackles William Carter (6-3, 285) and Jacob Slick (6-3, 340) as well as senior guards Evan Bauer (6-3, 225) and David Mackiewicz (6-0, 20)) with junior Dustin Rhoads (5-10, 235) at center.
Furlong liked the way his offense showed positive signs against the Indians with quarterback Tom Romano throwing the ball effectively to tight end Vince Ciaverelli. He thought the offensive line gave ample time to throw.
“We have to run the ball better,” said Furlong. “We haven’t run the ball well since the Methacton game. All year our offense hasn’t done a great job. We haven’t been able to open things up consistently. Until we do, teams are going to load up against us and bring everybody up. The passes we’ve had have been on play-action because they are coming up on the run so much.”
The Phantoms don’t have the big-play ability with speed and quickness that they have had in the past so opposing defenses are jamming the line of scrimmage and blitzing when needed.
Senior defensive end Brandon Johnston recovered a pair of fumbles against the Indians, and Ducky Ryan continued his excellent play in the secondary with an interception.
Romano completed 5 of 11 passes for 119 yards against the Tribe with Ciaverelli making four receptions for 116 yards. Romano doubles at cornerback and Ciaverelli doubles at linebacker on defense. Physical senior Sam McQuiston is the Phantoms’ top rusher and scored on a 16-yard run last week while doubling at linebacker. Travis Andrews and Vinny Nattle have shown signs of promise as sophomore backs. Junior Dan Kain has improved as a wide receiver and defensive back.
Furlong feels the Phantoms’ defense has kept the ballclub in every ballgame thus far this season.

Phoenixville saw its two-game shutout winning streak snapped by Upper Perkiomen, 21-12, in Pioneer Athletic Conference (PAC-10) football action last Friday night in the rain at Washington Field.
The Indians took an early 14-0 lead and then held on to the ball and held off the Phantoms, who scored with the aid of a couple big plays against the Tribe.
Upper Perkiomen seniors Esomchim Akpunonu and Chase Fleming anchored the running game for the Indians. Akpunonu gained 111 yards on 28 carries with a 2-yard scoring run while Fleming picked up 55 yards on 15 attempts. Senior quarterback Casey Perlstein ran for a 1-yard TD and completed 7 of 12 passes for 100 yards, including a 24-yard TD strike to Fleming.
Upper Perkiomen, which is still in the hunt for a District 1 Class AAA playoff berth, upped its record to 4-2 in the PAC-10 (6-2 overall). Phoenixville slipped to 2-4 (2-6).
The Phantoms celebrated Senior Night in pre-game ceremonies, honoring senior members of the football team, cheerleaders and band.
Phoenixville senior running back Sam McQuiston scored on a 16-yard run. Junior Dan Kain passed 17 yards to sophomore Travis Andrews for the other Phoenixville TD on a halfback pass off a reverse called by Phantom head coach Bill Furlong.
The Tribe rushed 52 times for 214 yards with a strong effort from its offensive line and finished with 314 yards of total offense on 64 plays.
Phoenixville rushed 32 times for 90 yards and totaled 233 yards on 45 plays for the evening.
The Phantoms visit winless Pottstown (0-6, 0-8) this coming Friday night at Grigg Memorial Field while Upper Perkiomen travels to play first-place Pottsgrove (6-0, 8-0). Coach Rick Pennypacker’s Falcons are the defending league champions.