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High school baseball: Weather forces schedule changes
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Article RatingThe tradition rarely dies, it just gets pushed back every so often.
The Perry County Baseball Tournament, which includes West Perry, Susquenita, Greenwood and Newport in a one-day doubleheader format, was scheduled to be played Saturday at West Perry High School's varsity and junior varsity baseball fields. But last weekend's freak snowstorm pushed the 15th edition of the tourney back to April 14.
“The kids enjoy (the tournament), they take a lot of pride in it,” West Perry coach Jeff Sanno said. “Whether it's played in the beginning or middle of the season, all four school's kids are excited whenever it is.”
That doesn't mean everyone likes to see the PECO Tournament on their schedule in the middle of the season.
“(Playing it) at the start of the year gives everyone more of a fair shake,” Susquenita coach Bryon Wilson said. “We might play two or three games the week before the tournament then two or three the week after. During the regular season that just kills you.”
Last year the rainy weather forced a unique setup to the PECO where the consolation and final games were played a week after the first round in May. West Perry claimed the 2006 title with a 4-0 win over Newport.
That makes this year's first round, which has West Perry slated to meet Newport, all the more intriguing.
“That wasn't done deliberately,” Newport athletic director John Ziegler said. “We flip it every year. The two Tri-Valley teams (Greenwood and Newport) play the two Mid-Penn teams in the first round.”
The Perry County schools also get together for tournaments in field hockey, cheerleading, girls' and boys' basketball, wrestling, softball, track and boys' soccer.
“We started these tournaments because the schools need to see each other and compete against each other,” Ziegler said.
Sanno agreed.
“For a fan it's nice to see the four teams play on the same day,” he said. “It's nice to see the baseball that's going on in the Tri-Valley for fans that normally only get to see the Mid-Penn.”
Wilson is pretty familiar with Tri-Valley baseball, serving as Newport's head coach for six years before taking over at Susquenita last year.
“I'd like to get (Newport) in the championship,” Wilson said. “That would be a good story; it would be cool. I know Newport would love to put one on me.”
New playoff format
Instead of a set number of teams from each division making the District 3 playoffs, as has been the case in the past, this year any team with a .500 record will qualify.
The move is questionable only because of weather. It's rare a snow/ice storm will wipe out an entire week of basketball playoff games. It's more likely rain can do that to baseball. When it happens, can you tell a 10-9 team it can't be in the playoffs when, according to the rules, it has a right to be? It could turn into a messy situation.
Games at City Island
Cedar Cliff will play a pair of games at Harrisburg's Commerce Bank Park, home of the Senators. The Colts meet Commonwealth Division rival Red Land on April 20 and close the regular season with Mechanicsburg on May 14.
Northern plays Biglerville and Susquenita at Commerce Bank on April 21 and May 4, respectively. All four games are at 7 p.m.
Moving up
Pine-Richland, the reigning PIAA Class AAA state champion and three-time defending District 7 (WPIAL) champion, was moved to Class AAAA when the PIAA completed its bi-yearly realignment. The Rams, 22-3 in 2006, will compete in the WPIAL Section 1.
Another WPIAL AAA power, Peters Township - the district runner-up in 2004 and ‘05 and state runner-up in 2003 and ‘05 - also was bumped up in class. The Indians will play in the WPIAL Section 3.
Peters Township entered last year's district playoffs as the top seed at 19-0 but was upended in the quarterfinals by Hampton, 9-8, and missed the state playoffs.
Pine Richland was 26 boys over the 496 cutoff from AAAA to AAA. Peters Township was 38 over.
Local teams switching classes include Red Land moving from AAA to AAAA and East Pennsboro from AA to AAA. The teams remained in the Commonwealth and Colonial divisions, respectively.
High praise
Delaware Valley, the 2006 PIAA Class AAAA champion, was preseason No. 37 in StudentSportsBaseball.com's FAB 50 National Rankings. The Warriors, out of District 2, return seven starters, including all-state catcher Matt Accardi.
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper mentioned State College, North Allegheny, West Allegheny, Punxsutawney and Philadelphia William Penn Charter as top teams in Pennsylvania.
No Pennsylvania team made the Baseball America/National High School Coaches Association top 50 poll.
Carlisle right-handed pitcher Corey Myers was tabbed as one of the top players in Pennsylvania by CBN. Other District 3 players included were third baseman Austin Gallagher (Manheim Township), first baseman/shortstop Derrick Osteen (Cedar Crest), and a pair of Wilson left-handed pitchers in John Schultz and Josh Smith, both University of Pittsburgh signees.
Punxsutawney catcher Devin Mesarco and Penn Charter left-handed pitcher Mark Adzick were named Pre-Season Louisville Slugger All Americans.
