The registration period for spring sports with Lansing Knights has been extended. The following dates are available for sign-ups for girls and boys lacrosse teams (fourth through eighth grades) in-house tee ball (ages 3 and 4), soccer (ages 3-4 and 5-6) and coach-pitch baseball (ages 5 and 6). Further information about travel soccer is available upon request. continue reading »

Lansing Knights

Lansing Knights will hold spring sports registration on the following dates:

Wednesdays – Jan.   12, 19, 26   7:00 p.m.— 9:00 p.m.

Saturdays – Jan.   15, 22, 29    10 a.m.— noon continue reading »

Image courtesy of Eteamz.

Thanks to help from Mayor Michael Nutter and several Philadelphia business, the Frankford Chargers and North Philly Blackhawks played in the Pop Warner Super Bowl in Florida yesterday.

continue reading »

The Philadelphia Sports Zone, an AC Milan-supported sports complex planned for Upper Holmesburg, has reached out to and will partner with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Soccer Hall of Fame. Maggie Fulmer made the announcement at last night’s Upper Holmesburg Civic Association meeting [video below]. continue reading »

Students in Pete Kozma's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gym hit the mats.

With the slouching economy back on the rise, many new businesses are popping up all over the area. In the Northeast, the Mixed Martial Arts craze has hit in the form of Kozma BJJ. This Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school based in Somerton offers students the opportunity to learn a valuable grappling technique used in MMA fighting. Owner Pete Kozma says he started the school after he earned his purple belt in only a year and a half, a task that takes on average five years. continue reading »

The team ambushes Tony D’Aulerio in the base paths after he drives home the winning run for the Blue Sox in their extra-inning championship effort. Photo by Tom Rowan.

Eighteen active Philadelphia Police Officers are huddled together in front of the dugout at LaSalle High School’s state-of-the-art Ward Field on a humid Sunday afternoon in August. Most of the players are hunched over with their hands on their knees and listening intently as their manager below them, resting on one knee in the dirt, looks up at his team with his circular-framed eye glasses and reminds them that they were good enough to reach the championship game, and are good enough to win it.

Meet the Philadelphia Police Blue Sox: an amateur baseball team composed entirely of Philly’s finest, ranging in age from 22 to 50. The team is preparing to take the field against the Cherry Hill Phillies in the championship game of an 18-and-older, New Jersey-based, independent baseball league for working class heroes with a hobby. A league full of weekend warriors.

“Where’s Cappy?” The Team Manager Bill Stephan, celebrating his 30th year as a cop, asks while scanning the players faces. From the back of the group, along the protective fence on the dugouts rim, a wide man with a sweat-stain halo forming around the crown of his cap speaks clearly, slowly and in a low tone.

“Same things he just said,” Joe Gillespie, 42, the ace starting pitcher begins. “Make this guy throw pitches… lay off the umpires… you know, just stay in the game. The whole game. No clowning around, no talking in here about work. We have the rest of the afternoon to talk about that. We can hit this guy, we proved it last time we played them. Let’s just give it everything.”

“Nine innings, 27 outs,” added PAL officer and three-hole hitter Tony D’Aulerio, 50, clapping his hands together.

“Let’s go play hard fellas,” Timmy Stephan, 24, says with black war paint outlining his high cheekbones.

“Alright guys,” the skipper regains the group’s attention with a direct tone, then lowers it. “We dedicate this year to all the fallen cops, OK? Dedicate the playoffs to everybody, OK? We play this game for them…do it for yourselves, and do it for them…Let’s get it in.”

Both players and coaches, in their matching gray and blue uniforms, all join hands at the middle of the huddle.

“Listen to me, and repeat after me, OK?”

Repeating after the skipper, the team shouts in unison.

“SKERSKI! CASSIDY! MCDONALD! NAZARIO! LICZBINSKI! SIMPSON! PAWLOWSKI! HEROES!”

continue reading »

Image taken from video below.

The puker was from Jersey. But we lay claim to this one.

The 17-year-old who interrupted the Phillies-Braves game Monday is from Parkwood. Sean Hagan ran into the outfield at Citizens Bank Park at the bottom of the seventh dressed in a full red bodysuit. He managed to escape a couple security guards before Atlanta’s Matt Diaz tripped him (video below). continue reading »

Frankford shortstop Israel Diaz and Neumann-Goretti's Albert Baur.

Frankford and Neumann-Goretti were just two of several schools in both the Public and Catholic Leagues which faced off  earlier this week as part of the 25th Annual Carpenter Cup Classic held in South Philadelphia’s FDR Park. The Catholic League won and advances.

A Somerton Spartans player pitches a fastball during an NEPL game. Photo by Laura D'Alfonso.

Kids who play baseball and softball in the Northeast Peanut League were forced to stop for one week–not just because some of them were acting out of line–but their parents and coaches were as well. The league’s president, Frank Connelly, gave the executive order to quell the disorderly behavior.

“Prior to the beginning of May is our first half of the season. During that time, we were averaging about three ejections a night from both softball and baseball side,” said Connelly, who enforced the shut down in late May.

The reasons for ejection included the children spewing foul language toward umpires and each other, throwing equipment and arguing calls by parents and coaches to the point where it became inappropriate. continue reading »

UPDATED — The St. Hubert Bambies won the District 12 Championship Thursday.

Congratulations to St. Hubert’s softball team! The girls defeated Lansdale Catholic to win the PIAA District 12 Catholic League Girls Softball Title.

They’ll face the District 12 Public League Champions at La Salle University, June 3, at 3 p.m.