Mercersburg Academy

The story of how @katie met @katieshow starts with fewer than 140 characters. Twitter, a social media platform known for short messages, connected Mercersburg's Katie LaRue with Katie Couric, who has a new daytime talk show on ABC. When establishing an Internet presence for “Katie,” show staff found @katie was taken by Katie LaRue. Then, they realized LaRue had a story that could be told on the show and emailed her. “I thought it was a joke,” LaRue said, saying she thought the email was a well-written scam.

Thomas Hunt Hardinge Jr., 87, of Hagerstown, Md., died Tuesday, May 29, 2012, at his home in Hagerstown. Born Dec. 11, 1924, in Hagerstown, he was the son of the late Thomas Hunt Hardinge Sr. and Hannah (Gunnell) Hardinge Stott. He was the husband of the late Pamela Statton Hardinge, who died Nov. 6, 2002, and the late Shirley Ann (Conner) Soltis Hardinge, who died May 18, 2010. Mr. Hardinge was a graduate of Mercersburg Academy and attended the University of Virginia. He entered the U.S. Army during World War II, serving in Patton's Third Army Signal Corps.

Sunday, May 27, 2012 ADULT BASEBALL The Hagerstown Braves defeated the Frederick Flying Dogs 4-2 Sunday in the semifinals of the Reno Powell Memorial Day Tournament. The Braves will play the Brunswick Orioles in the championship game Monday at Williamsport High School at 10 a.m. Brunswick beat the Martinsburg Blue Sox 13-3 in the other semifinal. The Orioles and Braves are each 4-0 in the tourney. Kent Worthington pitched a complete game with six strikeouts in Hagerstown's win over Frederick, while Tim Kellinger had three hits, including two doubles, and an RBI and Ryne Willard had an RBI double.

It was an unseasonable sweltering day on Saturday for Mercersburg Academy's 119th commencement. But there was a palpable excitement in the air not only as the graduates embarked on a new phase in their lives, but also because this year's commencement speaker was Madeleine Albright, the first female U.S. secretary of state. Head of School Douglas Hale outlined a list of Albright's accomplishments, including receiving the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, from President Obama on Tuesday.

Monday, May 21, 2012 GIRLS SOCCER CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Stephanie O'Brien had a goal and an assist and goalkeeper Rachel Clarke scored on a corner kick to lead Heritage Academy past Calvary Christian in the Mason Dixon Christian Conference tournament championship game at Cumberland Valley Christian. Clarke made eight saves in recording the shutout for the Eagles (9-4-2). O'Brien was selected Most Valuable Player, while Clarke, Sarah Culver, Nicole Gaylor and Kathleen Kidd were named to the all-tournament team for Heritage, which beat the top two seeds to win the tourney title.

Catherine H. Long, 95, a resident of Penn Hall at Menno Haven, Chambersburg, and formerly of Mercersburg Road, Greencastle, died Monday, May 7, 2012, at Penn Hall Nursing Center. She was the wife of the late Joseph F. Long, who preceded her in death on April 21, 2006. Born Jan. 29, 1917, in Greencastle, she was the daughter of the late Daniel and Ruth (Kuhn) Haldeman. She graduated from Greencastle High School in 1934 and received her degree as a registered nurse from St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing, Lancaster, in 1939 In her early years, Catherine was a homemaker.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012 PREP BASEBALL HANCOCK - Bishop Walsh's Kevin Myers stymied Hancock on Wednesday, striking out 20 while leading the Spartans to a 3-0 victory. Myers also drove in two runs with a triple for Bishop Walsh (4-2) and scored the third run on a throwing error. Hunter McKinley struck out seven for Hancock (3-2). Bishop Walsh 3, Hancock 0 Bishop Walsh     000    003    0    -     3    2    0 Hancock    000    000    0    -     0    1    3 Myers and Murray.

Monday, March 19, 2012 BOYS BASKETBALL MERCERSBURG, Pa. - Tim Crouch has been named the new boys basketball coach at Mercersburg Academy, replacing Mark Cubit. Crouch is a native of Pittsburgh and was a three-year starter in basketball at Dickinson (Pa.) College following high school at North Allegheny. “I could not be more excited and honored to have the opportunity to coach and guide these young men as well as uphold the rich tradition of Mercersburg athletics and its basketball program,” said Crouch.

Saturday, March 17, 2012 PREP BASEBALL Berkeley Springs 4, Frankfort 1 SHORT GAP, W.Va. - Tyler Holt threw a three-hitter with eight strikeouts to lead Berkeley Springs past Frankfort. Holt helped his own cause with a two-run double in the first inning. Brett Fultz and Preston Hovermale each had an RBI single for the Indians. Jefferson 12, Goretti 7 SHENANDOAH JUNCTION, W.Va. - Kevin Proctor had two hits and three RBIs for St. Maria Goretti in a loss to Jefferson.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 PREP WRESTLING IPSL Championships Saint James 61, MSD 18 at SAINT JAMES 138 - John Ludwick (SJ) fft.; 145 - Tom Rocca (SJ) fft.; 152 - Johnny Stephens (SJ) p. Sam Lundquist,  0:38; 160 - Henry Smith (SJ) fft.; 170 - Nerville Nde (MSD) p. Andy Collins, 2:24; 182 - Kendal Fosbaugh (SJ) fft.; 195 - Zach Israel (MSD) p. Leighton Younger, 2:22; 220 - Robert Moody (MSD) fft.; 285 - Brady Burker (SJ) p. Ryan Carr, 0:13; 106 - Omair Akmal (SJ)