What we learned Thursday

The Mid-Penn Conference opened division play with a bang Thursday afternoon. On the first full day of divisional play, everything we thought we knew went flying out the window. Let's start from the top:

Commonwealth

Cedar Cliff and Chambersburg were the consensus picks to walk away with the division title by the end of the season yet both dropped their openers. Cedar Cliff failed to score a run to help pitcher Renny Parthemore in a 3-0 loss to Cumberland Valley. David Drinks (right, with catcher Nick Valek) baffled the Colts, who have scored one run in their last 14 innings.

Chambersburg also struggled to score runs in a 3-1 home loss to a Red Land team that was supposedly in rebuilding mode. Sure, the Trojans were without ace Calvin Mentzer but to win the title in this division, it'll take more than one player.

Keystone

This was supposed to be a two-horse race between Susquehanna Twp. and Hershey. Just like in the Commonwealth, after Day 1 of divisional play, both of those teams are 0-1. Hershey dropped a 7-6 decision to Middletown while Susquehanna Twp. fell to Gettysburg, 7-4. That's the same Gettysburg team that is replacing nearly everyone, including its head coach. The new favorite, at least in this circle, is a Lower Dauphin team that beat Cumberland Valley and Hempfield and pushed Central Dauphin to the brink.

Colonial

More upheaval but Waynesboro survived, it just needed an extra inning to slip past Susquenita, 4-3. This final will give hope to the rest of the division, including Shippensburg. The Greyhounds routed Northern, 10-2, Thursday. Waynesboro and Northern were tagged as the teams to battle it out for division supremacy but Shippensburg, the defending champion, might have something to say about that.

Capital

Not much changed here. Greencastle-Antrim slammed James Buchanan, 14-1, and Camp Hill eased by Milton Hershey, 7-0. If anyone challenges these two it will be a surprise.