Indians, Golden Hawks, Aces, Fords advance

Thank goodness for the Super Bowl. It was while watching Super Bowl XLII in 2008, Central tennis coach Michael Horwits came up with the idea of having a tournament featuring the best high school teams in the area.

Thus was born the Greater Philadelphia Challenge. This year's edition saw Council Rock North and South, Lower Merion and Haverford School collect first-round victories in the second annual event at Awbury Recreation Center yesterday.

"I think it's high-quality tennis", Horwits said, "and allows everyone to compete against the best teams in the area. It brings out the best in the competitors."

In a 5-0 win by Lower Merion over St. Joseph's Prep, Doug Blum came through with games of 6-2, 4-6, 6-0 to win his match at No. 3 singles for the Aces and Jake Langbein came through with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 2 singles for Council Rock South in a 5-0 win over Central.

David Kazakevich picked up a 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles for Council Rock North in a 5-0 win over La Salle.

Brian O'Grady ripped a bases-loaded single in the eighth inning and handed Archbishop Wood a 2-1 win over visiting Neumann-Goretti in a Catholic League Blue Division game.

Matt McAllister held the Saints to a pair of hits over 71/3 innings, then turned the reins over to Mike Calhoun who collected the win.

Pioneer Athletic. Derrick Ryan hit a single to drive in Thomas Ryan in the bottom of the 10th inning and handed Phoenixville a 4-3 win over visiting Boyertown.

Nonleague. At the Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Fla., Penn Charter scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and held on to beat Plum Township, 2-1.

Nick Foley tied the game with an RBI single, driving in Steve Harrington, and Mike Massaro drove in the game-winning run with a single, knocking in Jack Nazarewycz.

Sean Cross pounded a bases-loaded double in the top of the seventh inning and Lincoln went on to hold off host Swenson, 9-8.

After walking the first batter, Courtney Spina was perfect for host Garnet Valley in an 11-0 Central League win over visiting Lower Merion.

Spina retired the next 15 batters in a row for the five-inning no-hitter, striking out 13 of them.

Public. Elizabeth Lowe's two-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning gave host Dobbins an 8-7 win over Mastbaum.

Matt Dilks scored the last of his three goals with 1 second left to give Lower Merion a 9-8 win over visiting Garnet Valley in a Central League game.

Dilks also assisted on a pair of goals.