SPORTS
provided by Steven Young, Schuylkill Plus! Sportsd
Holy cow, as the late, great Phil “The Scooter” Rizutto would announce from the New York Yankees’ broadcast booth. PS: We’re not Yankees fans from this side of the ledger…
Can’t believe that the high school softball/baseball seasons are over – regular seasons that is.
Shoot, it was only last month our first poll was issued. Now we are looking at a final poll for the regular season before the playoffs get ready to rock and roll.
Too bad that the diamond sport doesn’t get at least a second-week June extension to play the games. The cry from yonder, graduation is taking place, seniors are going off to distant places, but lest we remind you that playoff teams will always have players.
What we’re trying to say: The season is far too short, and this sport always gets short-changed. It’s unfair, but who are we to kick and fight, yell and scream.
Well, with all that ranting and raging let’s start looking at our June poll and come July we will crown the champion.
And to think, when Schuylkill Plus hits the July newsstand, we will be looking at the big league run to the halfway point in the season.
But on a few side notes: The District 11 will be playing championships at the home of the Phillies Triple A affiliate the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and the Coca-Cola Park. That’s a big deal, gives the players a major league-type atmosphere to play in.
Meanwhile, the first round of postseason baseball playoffs will be going on by the time you read our edition. Even though the finals are in Coca-Cola Park, Stump Stadium, Pine Grove is still true Americana when it comes to the grand ole game.
You gotta make a summer trip to visit this terrific field. It is one of the finest in the country. It truly is a field of dreams in a lot of ways. There are no corn field in the outfield, but the laid-back approach with a covered grandstand says it all.
Schuylkill Plus Top 10 June Baseball Poll
1. Blue Mountain (21-1) – Fly Eagles Fly, up, up, to the sky. Defending D-11 champions captured another Schuylkill League championship. Now it’s on to district play.
2. Williams Valley (20-1) – Came up short in quest for a league title losing to the No. 1 ranked team. But this team will be tough to beat in D-11, Class A play offs.
3. Upper Dauphin (20-1) – Missed the Trojans in our last poll. Watch this club come post season D-3 playoffs. No. 2 and No. 3 could meet in the state tournament if both get out of district play unscathed.
4. Schuylkill Haven (16-4) – This is one of the surprise clubs of the 2010 season. Hurricanes are always well coached, but this edition didn’t seem like a title contender; until now as they gear up for the D-11, Class AA tournament.
5. Pine Grove (12-8) – The name of the game in this school district is baseball. Not that the other sports don’t exist, but baseball is THE sport here and year-in-and-out the Cardinals win, baby, win!
6. North Schuylkill (10-10) – Toughest team to figure all season. Spartans were thought to be a contender when it all started. Really never lived up to preseason hype. Made the Class AA playoffs in D-11, could atone with a run here.
7. Tri-Valley (15-5) – Bulldogs were in contention throughout the season before getting jacked by Williams Valley. But let’s face it, who didn’t Billy Valley jack this season?
8. Marian (14-6) – Colts hung around the way Tri-Valley did this season, but couldn’t matchup with the big guy on the block. Still another solid year for the program, as Marian gets a second season, the postseason D-11, Class A.
9. Panther Valley (11-9) – Panthers are always right in the thick of things, even if they must face top heavy schools. Postseason could have a good run in Class AA
10.Nativity (15-5) – It wasn’t expected, in fact, the Green Wave did a remarkable job of winning as many as they did without a dominating pitcher. And in this sport you have to pitch it to contend. Postseason Class A bound.
Schuylkill Plus Top 10 June Softball Poll
1. Pine Grove (20-1)– How can you argue with this choice. The Lady Cardinals completed a run to the Schuylkill League championship defeating the No. 2 team.
2. Minersville (19-2) – Another great season in the land of The Big Blue Machine. Miners will be very tough come District 11, Class A tournament playoffs
3. Williams Valley (18-2) – Quality here from this outstanding club, that had to battle Minersville, throughout the season. Will make a lot of noise in D-11, Class A run
4. North Schuylkill (17-3) – This band of Spartans did a lot in a season that no one expected this type of winning. Lady Spartans draw a 3-seed in the District 11, Class AA tournament.
5. Tri-Valley (15-5) – A dangerous team that enters the Class A, District 11 tournament with a 3-seed and will make a lot of tough playoff games for the opposition.
6. Marian (12-8) – Another dangerous team in the Class A tournament. With only one senior in the lineup, Fillies are a “team-to-watch” in the postseason.
7. Hamburg (18-5) – Berks County club on the fringe of Schuylkill County has been quietly enjoying a banner season. Lady Hawks win Berks Softball title, first in school history since 1975.
8. Upper Dauphin (18-1) – Perhaps this team deserves a higher ranking. Win 18 of 19 games, and a Tri-Valley League championship, says a lot.
9. Pottsville (14-6) – A solid year put this team right in the thick of a Schuylkill League Division I run before losing out to Pine Grove. Pottsville garnered a No. 2 seed in the 8-team District 11, Class AAA tournament.
10. Marian (15-5) – Fillies are getting better with each outing. Young team with only two seniors, if pitching holds up, will be an interesting watch the remainder of the way.
