MID-PENN PLAYOFFS ON TAP
Although there’s still one full week of regular-season play remaining, matchups for the Mid-Penn Conference’s tournament of champions are beginning to take shape.
And with home games planned for next Thursday’s semifinal round, here’s what we know right now. The Commonwealth Division champion (Cumberland Valley, Cedar Cliff or State College) will visit the Colonial winner (Gettysburg or Boiling Springs), while the Keystone Division titlist (Lower Dauphin, Mechanicsburg, Bishop McDevitt or Palmyra) will be entertained by the Capital’s top entry (East Pennsboro or Trinity).
Once those semifinal-round winners are decided, the survivors will collide at Mechanicsburg’s Northside Cage on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. Remember this: Should there be a tie for a division title, co-champions will be declared and a playoff to determine the postseason tournament’s participant will be held. And, like last year when McDevitt and West Perry met for the Capital’s spot, that could delay the proceedings.
BULL’S BEST
Since postseason play is just over one week away, here’s another glimpse at the top teams (by classification) in The Patriot-News’ coverage area.
AAA — 1. Cumberland Valley (14-1); 2. Lower Dauphin (13-2); 3. Mechanicsburg (12-3); 4. Cedar Cliff (13-3); 5. State College (10-4); 6. Chambersburg (10-5).
AA — 1. Gettysburg (12-1); 2. Bishop McDevitt (10-5); 3. Boiling Springs (11-2-1); 4. Greencastle-Antrim (12-4); 5. East Pennsboro (10-4-1); 6. Palmyra (7-7).
A — 1. East Juniata (12-2); 2. Greenwood (13-2); 3. Trinity (13-3-1); 4. Williams Valley (17-0); 5. Lancaster Country Day (11-3); 6. Covenant Christian (11-0-1).
HOYA HAMMERS
Part of a resurgent Georgetown program (11-2-1) that was ranked in the top five nationally when October began, former Mechanicsburg star Austin Martz has played in 13 of the Hoyas’ 14 contests — all off the bench.
Martz, an all-state performer as a senior at Mechanicsburg, has pitched in with an assist. Up next for Georgetown is a Saturday scrap at home with Big East Conference rival Marquette.
Georgetown last season finished 10-5-4, 5-3-1 in the Big East.
THURSDAY’S DANDIES
For those hoping to check out a game Thursday, here’s several that might catch your attention: Cedar Cliff at Cumberland Valley (7:00) in a Commonwealth scrap; Hershey visits City Island for a Keystone dustup with McDevitt (7:30); and, in the Colonial, Boiling Springs at Greencastle-Antrim (6:30).
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