‘Baaack’ in states, Radnor enjoying the ride

RADNOR — Audrey Rosenblum is missing softball practice, but she finds time to get some hacks in after school.

“Sometimes I hit for about 15 minutes before basketball practice,” the Radnor senior guard said. “But there’s a no-practice rule when you’re in states.”

Rosenblum is the only softball player on the girls basketball team at Radnor (20-6), which is returning to a PIAA tournament for the fourth time in six years.

“It’s sad to think it’s almost over. Our fourth-grade team, the Radnor Rush, has been together all the way through, especially the three of us seniors (Rosenblum, Holly Holtsberg, Cara Camposano). Going into the last game, and now, we feel that we have nothing to lose,” Rosenblum said. “It could be the last time we go out there together, so we don’t want to go out there without a fight.”

Most of “RGB” is comprised of lacrosse players, including junior forward Ellie Mueller, who recently eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for her career.

“Everything since the first round of districts until now has been extra,” Mueller said. “Everyone has their spring sports we should be at right now, but we’re all here in the gym and loving it, while everyone else is practicing outside in the cold. … It’s really exciting.”

Radnor coach Mark Jordan is also busy juggling responsibilities. Jordan is back coaching the Radnor baseball team after his historic run at Marple Newtown. Last spring he guided the Tigers to a PIAA championship, the first by a Delaware County baseball program.

But Jordan is not ready to hang up the clipboard yet. He prepared for this occasion by getting T-shirts made for his players. On the front reads, in bold-blue lettering, “RGB 2019 PIAA 5A.” And on the back it says, “We’re Baaack #notfakenews.”

The shirts speak to Jordan’s quirky humor as well as the mindset of his team before Saturday’s PIAA Class 5A tournament opener with Southern Lehigh (23-3) at Freedom High School.

The Raiders, who took fifth place in District 1, are relaxed and having fun.

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MEDIANEWS GROUP FILE Audrey Rosenblum is one of three seniors on Radnor. Despite their underdog persona, the Raiders claimed fifth place in District 1 and open the PIAA Class 5A tournament against District 11 champion Southern Lehigh Saturday afternoon at Freedom High.