Baseball: Top non-conference games

Here's a look at the top games of the high school baseball season involving area teams against those from outside the Mid-Penn Conference.

Cumberland Valley at Ephrata, March 31, 4:15 p.m. -- CV has a brutal non-conference schedule and it begins with a trip to the defending Lancaster-Lebanon League champion. No one can ever say coach Mike Whitehead Jr. runs from a challenge.

Big Spring at Bermudian Springs, April 2, 11 a.m. -- The Bulldogs took a major step forward last year by qualifying for the District 3-AAA playoffs. The Eagles? All they did was a win the PIAA Class AA championship last June.

Hempfield at Cumberland Valley, April 2, 1 p.m. -- You remember the Black Knights, right? They were last seen knocking Carlisle out of the 3-AAAA playoffs and upsetting top-seeded and Mid-Penn champion Cedar Cliff three days later.

Cedar Crest at Cumberland Valley, April 9, 11 a.m. -- Another heavy-hitter heading CV's way. The Falcons are the defending District 3-AAAA champions. If there is a tougher non-conference schedule in the state than CV's, we'd love to see it.

Carlisle at West York, April 16, 11 a.m. -- If the rigors of playing in the Commonwealth Division aren't enough, the young Thundering Herd takes to the road for a game against last year's 3-AAA runner-up.

Bermudian Springs at Camp Hill, April 21, 4 p.m. -- Before each team qualified for the PIAA playoffs -- Camp Hill advanced to the Class A quarterfinals; Bermudian won AA gold -- these two duked it out twice in scrimmages last May. This time, the scoreboard at College Park will be turned on.

State College at Cedar Cliff, April 30, 11 a.m. -- In two years, this will be a Commonwealth Division game. For now, it serves a test for Cedar Cliff, which should be in hot pursuit of its second straight division title by this point.

West York at Cedar Cliff, May 7, 11 a.m. -- The Colts are closing against some big-name opponents. After last year's district flame out, is this an attempt to be more prepared for postseason baseball?