Warm weather, the seemingly constant threat of rain and wondering which of the five leagues that compete in District 3 owns the best teams: It must be time for District 3 softball playoffs.
And the calendar says indeed it is. They begin on Tuesday with 18 games in three classes. Check Pennlive and The Patriot-News on Tuesday for "5 Games to Watch.'' Today, we'll take a look at what we might expect to see in each of the four classes.
CLASS AAAA:
The power class. The big schools –- three with at least 20 wins -- with the big hitters and the big-time pitchers. But which three teams will advance to the PIAA Tournament?
Cumberland Valley earned the top seed in the power ratings. The Eagles lost 11-1 to No. 3 Central York on April 3 and followed that with 10 straight wins. They lost 5-4 in eight innings to Mifflin County and proceeded to rip off eight straight victories after that.
"You have to have a short-term memory,'' CV pitcher Kayla Sullenberger said. "We lost to Central York 11-1 in the middle of the season and we bounced back the next day. We lost to Mifflin County and we bounced back that next day. We have to be in the moment; that's the way we are about everything.
"We had a lot of good competitors in our league. We're practicing for it. We're ready I think.''
The Eagles open against Spring Grove at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Messiah College. "We scrimmaged Spring Grove,'' CV coach Gregg Williams said. "It should be a good game.''
CV could face another York team in Red Lion in the second round if the Lions defeat LD, which needs to again find its once-hot bats.
The intriguing matchup is Central Dauphin-Mechanicsburg, a Mid-Penn Commonwealth vs. Keystone confrontation. CD rates the favorite's role on the battery of Amanda Homrighausen and Rosa Veliky, but the Rams must be wary of a good, young Wildcat batting order led by Taylor Clark, Erica Molovich and Alyssa Dietz.
Lancaster-Lebanon foes Conestoga Valley and Manheim Twp. round out the upper bracket.
The power brokers reside in the bottom half as Lan-Leb champ Hempfield, winners of 21 straight, faces Berks champ Wilson in the first round. Solanco-Dallastown is a solid matchup, and Central York-Warwick and Chambersburg-Daniel Boone finish the bracket.
Central York pitcher Taylor Rohrbaugh and Hempfield ace Kendall Beck could wage an excellent battle in the semifinals.
PREDICTION: 1. Central York. 2. Cumberland Valley. 3. Hempfield.
CLASS AAA:
Lan-Leb and Berks teams are the power brokers here despite half of the 16-team bracket comprised of Mid-Penn squads.
Twin Valley (Berks, 21-1) is the top seed and must work through a rugged bracket with teams such as Susquehannock, Northern, Lampeter-Strasburg and Manheim Central. With Sara McKee on the mound, a Manheim Central-Twin Valley semi could materialize.
Down below, Donegal (18-3) sits as No. 2, and the three other games are toss-ups with James Buchanan-Susquehanna Twp., Greencastle-Antrim vs. Middletown and Shippensburg against Kennard-Dale.
Pitchers Allison Hartman (Susquehanna Twp.), Sarah Gossard (Middletown) and Morgan Newell (Shippensburg) will face tough challenges, and consistent defensive performances from their respective squads will be mandatory to advance.
PREDICTION: 1. Manheim Central. 2. Donegal. 3. Twin Valley.
CLASS AA:
Just two teams advance from this classification and the semis could be epic. No. 1 Brandywine Heights lost its opener against Minersville and didn't lose again (winning 20 straight) until Wilson won a 7-3 Berks title game.
Bishop McDevitt (10-10) must get past Lancaster Mennonite (13-7) in order to challenge Brandywine as the Crusaders rely on pitcher Lizzy Noss, the speed of Nos. 1-2 hitters Megan Hartwell and Abby Marzzacco and the power hitting of Sophie Lehigh and Sara Phelan.
Delone Catholic, which lost only to AAAA Central York, is seeded second. Susquenita, the third seed at 17-3, faces Annville-Cleona (12-6) on May 23.
The Blackhawks have placed second two straight seasons in the Mid-Penn tournament to AAAA schools CV and LD. "The girls want to make a name for their small school,'' Susquenita coach Jesse Snyder said. "It's not gonna be an easy task, but the girls are up to it and that's what I love about this team.''
PREDICTION: 1. Delone Catholic. 2. Brandywine Heights.
CLASS A:
This must be why there's no Tri-Valley League postseason tournament because four TVL teams make up the Class A bracket. Greenwood challenges Upper Dauphin and Millersburg will meet Halifax on Thursday. Newport is in Class AA and finished 12th in the power ratings despite its 13-6 record.
The pitcher with the hottest hand among UDA's Amber Bingaman, Greenwood's Brooke Louden or Chelsea Hicks, Millersburg's Marlo Roadcap as well as Chelsea Konyar of Halifax will lead her team to the PIAA tournament.
Konyar seems to have that momentum heading onto the tournament trail.
PREDICTION: 1. Halifax (over Upper Dauphin).