Monday, April 28, 2008

A Monday washout

As expected, all baseball games scheduled for Monday were postponed. Most were rescheduled for Tuesday. Here's a complete list of area games and their rescheduled date:

Commonwealth
Cedar Cliff at Central Dauphin East, ppd. TBA
Cumberland Valley at Carlisle, ppd. to Tuesday, 4
Red Land at Chambersburg, ppd. to Tuesday, 5

Keystone
Mechanicsburg at Bishop McDevitt, ppd. to Tuesday, 4

Colonial
Waynesboro at Susquenita, ppd. to Tuesday, 4
Big Spring at Shippensburg, ppd. to Tuesday, 4:15
East Pennsboro at West Perry, ppd. to Tuesday, 4:15

Capital
Harrisburg at Camp Hill, ppd. to Tuesday, 4
Trinity at Greencastle-Antrim, ppd. to Tuesday, 4
James Buchanan vs. Boiling Springs at Commerce Bank Park, City Island, ppd. to Tuesday, 7

Non-division
Northern at Central Dauphin, ppd. to May 8, 4

As a side note, the Cedar Cliff vs. Red Land game, which was postponed twice over the weekend, has been moved to Thursday at Brandt Cook Field and is set for a 4 p.m. start, according to Red Land's highschoolsports.net page.

Top Games: April 28-May 3

This week could be really messy. Late Sunday evening the forecast predicated at least four days of rain this week. That’s not good news, especially for Cedar Cliff and Red Land. The West Shore rivals had their game at Commerce Bank Park postponed from Saturday to Sunday when it was again postponed, this time to Tuesday at Red Land’s Brandt Cook Field at 4 p.m.

So what happens if games involving those teams get rained out Monday? Both are on the road with Cedar Cliff at Central Dauphin East and Red Land at Chambersburg. The logical step is to move the game to Tuesday, but that date is already booked. Stay tuned. This week could fun.

Mechanicsburg at Bishop McDevitt, Monday, 4 – These two enter this matchup two games out of first place in the Mid-Penn Keystone Division. It’s safe to say the loser here can stop dreaming of a division title and focus on winning a district playoff berth.

Red Land at Chambersburg, Monday, 5 – This one might decide the Mid-Penn Commonwealth champion. Both come in at 7-1 in the division and hold a three-game lead over Central Dauphin. The Trojans took the first game, 10-7. Red Land planned to throw Kyle Otstot on Sunday and K.C. Beshore on Monday. It’ll be interesting to see if coach Kyle Wagner adjusts his rotation.

Cedar Cliff at Red Land, Tuesday, 4 – Maybe the third time will be the charm. Only time will tell if this game will be played today or if further changes will be made depending on Monday’s weather. Whenever these two get together, make sure to check it out. Don’t forget, Red Land swept Cedar Cliff a season ago.

Central Dauphin at Red Land, Wednesday, 4 – Tired of hearing about Red Land? If the Patriots stay hot, there’ll be a lot more coming about them. Crafty left-hander Andrew Hunt should be on the mound for Red Land as the team tries to sweep Central Dauphin for the second year in a row.

Boiling Springs at Camp Hill, Friday, 4 – It’s unlikely either team will catch front-running Greencastle-Antrim but each team must keep winning to stay in district playoff contention. Regardless how far back in the division race these two are, this game should be entertaining. It always is.

Cumberland Valley vs. South Western at Hershey Tournament, Saturday, 12:30 – CV has three games this week before it hits Derry Twp . The Eagles will be expected to beat Carlisle and Central Dauphin East. A win over Chambersburg on Thursday will catapult the team into this tournament as it tries to defend its title. Plus, a win or two here will wrap up a district title berth. CV will play at 3:45 p.m. in the consolation if it loses or at 6:30 in the final if it beats the Mustangs.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Weekend slate packed

Want to check out some of the top teams in the Mid-Penn before the predicted stormy weather hits the midstate early next week? Here's three games spaced far enough apart over two days that the serious baseball enthusiast can catch:

Friday
Mechanicsburg at Hershey, 4 -- In the ever changing Mid-Penn Keystone Division, this is a vital game to decide who enters next week in the driver's seat. Hershey is tied for first while Mechanicsburg and Gettysburg are one game back. Mechanicsburg survived Gettysburg, 5-4, earlier this week to stay within striking distance of the top spot.

Saturday
Bishop McDevitt at Boiling Springs, noon -- Trinity split with Mid-Penn Keystone member Bishop McDevitt and also split with Capital rival Boiling Springs. The Bubblers used only one pitcher Wednesday in a nine-inning loss to the Shamrocks. The Crusaders have rebounded from a hot and cold start and come in off a nice 5-1 win over Palmyra.

Cedar Cliff vs. Red Land at Commerce Bank Park, City Island, 6:30 -- This one needs no introduction. It's Cedar Cliff vs. Red Land under the lights. The Patriots swept Cedar Cliff on their way to the Mid-Penn Commonwealth title last year. D.J. Rowe tossed a complete-game Wednesday in a win over CV, which bodes well for a young Colts staff. Here's the dilemma for Red Land coach Kyle Wagner: Throw ace Kyle Otstot against the Colts or save him for Monday against Chambersburg, with whom the Patriots are tied with for first in the division?

The Patriots control this game

It's in their control.

Nothing any other team does can affect Red Land's bid to be Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division champions.

All the Patriots have to do is take care of business. Plain, simple and straightforward.

Red Land, which enters Friday tied for first in the division at 6-1 with Chambersburg, has five games left in the Commonwealth. The stretch starts today at home against Central Dauphin East before the Patriots meet West Shore rival Cedar Cliff at Commerce Bank Park on Saturday.

Then comes a late-afternoon, 5 p.m. start Monday at Chambersburg, the team that downed Red Land, 10-7, April 10.

Central Dauphin ventures to Brandt Cook Field two days later before the Patriots end division play at Cedar Cliff on May 5.

At this point it's a three-team race for the Division between Red Land, Chambersburg and Central Dauphin (5-3). The other four teams all have losing records in the Commonwealth.

The Patriots have the pitching depth with Kyle Otstot, Andrew Hunt and K.C. Beshore to handle the grind but it won't be easy. The bright spot is that Red Land's fate sits squarely in its own hands.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

In or out?

Whether or not former Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Mora wants to, we're going to talk about playoffs today.

Not the NFL playoffs. Or even football playoffs. It's baseball season and the District 3 tournament is rapidly approaching.

The rule -- in its second year of existence -- is that teams must be at .500 by the predetermined cutoff, which is May 10, to be eligible for the field.

The following is a look at area teams, what they have to do to qualify and if we think they will. Records are prior to Thursday's games. (Schools listed alphabetically):

Bible Baptist (Class A, 2-7): The Bobcats have six games left, so they mathematically could make it but it's doubtful. Verdict: Out

Big Spring (Class AAA, 3-8): The Bulldogs must go 5-2 down the stretch to get in. Problem is, there aren't any gimmes on the remaining schedule. Verdict: Out

Boiling Springs (Class AA, 8-5): If the Bubblers only beat Milton Hershey and Steelton-Highspire down the stretch, they're still qualify. Verdict: In

Camp Hill (Class A, 7-5): Single-A is different due to the lack of teams. It's possible that half this field will have losing records and the Lions will be one of the top seeds: Verdict: In

Carlisle (Class AAAA, 3-10): The best Carlisle can finish is 9-10, meaning that 12-2, five-inning loss to Red Land on Wednesday eliminated the Thundering Herd from playoff contention.

Cedar Cliff (Class AAAA, 9-4): The Colts need only one more win to qualify. Verdict: In

Cumberland Valley (Class AAAA, 5-6): The Eagles have eight games remaining prior to the deadline. Before their guaranteed two games at the Hershey Tournament on May 3, CV has Big Spring, Carlisle, Central Dauphin East and Chambersburg on the schedule. If CV wins three of those it'll still need one more to get in at 10-9. Verdict: In

East Pennsboro (Class AAA, 4-8): At the deadline the Panthers will have 18 games, meaning two more losses will eliminate East Penn. Verdict: Out

Mechanicsburg (Class AAA, 6-7): The Wildcats have seven games left, so Mechanicsburg will have to go at least 4-3 down the stretch to get in. With Hershey, Bishop McDevitt, Lower Dauphin, Susquehanna Twp., Cumberland Valley, Middletown and James Buchanan on the schedule, that will be extremely difficult. Verdict: Out

Northern (Class AAA, 8-5): The Polar Bears will have no trouble notching the two wins they need to qualify. Verdict: In

Red Land (Class AAAA, 10-2): Via their win over Carlisle on Wednesday, the Patriots wrapped up a postseason berth. Now they can focus on repeating as Mid-Penn Commonwealth champions.

Shippensburg (Class AAA, 7-2): The Greyhounds still have nine games left and only need two more wins. Verdict: In

Susquenita (Class AAA, 5-7): The Blackhawks are on an impressive three-game winning streak but have to go 5-2 down the stretch to be a playoff team. With opponents like Shippensburg, Waynesboro and Red Land (among others) still on the schedule, a winning record will be tough. Verdict: Out

Trinity (Class AA, 6-8): Five games are left and three are against Milton Hershey, Harrisburg and Steelton-Highspire. To get in, the Shamrocks will have to beat those three and take one from Greencastle-Antrim or James Buchanan. Verdict: In

West Perry (Class AAA, 9-4): The Mustangs need one more win to be back in the postseason. Verdict: In

Monday, April 21, 2008

Weather strikes Colonial

Of the three games scheduled in the Mid-Penn Colonial Division for this afternoon, two have been postponed due to unplayable field conditions. The only game in this division still on schedule for today is West Perry at Big Spring. First pitch is 4 p.m. in Newville.

East Pennsboro's trip to Waynesboro has been put on hold and is set for tomorrow at 4 p.m. while Shippensburg will host Northern at 4:15 tomorrow.

As of 1 p.m. all other games involving area teams were to be played as scheduled.

Top Games: April 21-26

This week we have the unofficial start to the second half of divisional play in the Mid-Penn. At this point only one reigning division champion – Waynesboro in the Colonial – is leading its division.

As the end of April draws near, this week will go a long way in determining who is a serious division contender and who will have to settle to be playing for a district playoff spot.

Camp Hill at Trinity, Monday, 4 – A 12-6 loss to Susquenita on Saturday snapped a four-game Trinity winning streak. Camp Hill isn’t playing its best ball right now. Look no further than Friday’s eight-inning win against winless Milton Hershey for proof. Expect an A.J. Weaver vs. Matt Spiegel pitching duel.

Northern at Shippensburg, Monday, 4:15 – The last meeting went 10 innings and the Polar Bears emerged with a 1-0 win. There’s no question Northern will see Shippensburg ace Ricky Ott again. The left-hander struck out 13 Bears and held the team scoreless for seven innings in the first game. If Ott gets some help from his offense, the Greyhounds will be back to their winning ways.

Cedar Cliff at Cumberland Valley, Wednesday, 4:15 – Talk about a contrast in styles. CV has trouble hitting, Cedar Cliff has trouble with consistent pitching. All but one of the Colts’ wins have come outside the division. After a 12-3 loss at Central Dauphin, the Eagles aren’t doing any better in the division with a 2-4 record (one win came against Cedar Cliff, 13-9). Loser here might fall out of the division race.

Mechanicsburg at Hershey, Friday, 4 – The Trojans have used four straight wins to vault into first place in the division. Mechanicsburg entered the week two games back. The way the Keystone has been this year, who knows where these teams will be when they meet. The only certain thing is that this game, one way or another, will end up playing a role in who wins the division.

Cedar Cliff vs. Red Land at Commerce Bank Park, City Island, Saturday, 6:30 – Red Land swept the Colts a season ago. The second win over Cedar Cliff locked up the outright Commonwealth title for the Patriots. Neither team has an easy week and both have division games Friday afternoon. A fatigued Red Land staff could push Cedar Cliff’s potent offense to a high-scoring win.