The playoffs officially started on Friday, with several teams' seasons ending. The most notable is Lakeland but we'll get to that shortly. 4A and 1A Baseball's playoffs start on Monday, as do 3A and 2A Softball. 3A and 2A Baseball start back on Tuesday with quarterfinal matchups and so does 4A and 1A softball. We are 8 days away from the start of the Baseball District Finals at PNC Field so by the time I post my next weekly article, it will be well known who will play for the District Title on Memorial Day. So with that said, here are a few bits from this past week.
LAKELAND FALLS IN FIRST ROUND
Well, this came to a shock for many but to be fair, Lakeland ended up playing 4 games in 5 days. Lakeland played Mid Valley on Monday and Tuesday hoping to seal up the division title, but ended up losing to Mid Valley on Monday then winning on Tuesday to have a one game playoff with Holy Cross on Thursday. Which meant they would have to play their first round playoff game on Friday. Lakeland ended up losing the Division championship game in extra innings then had to come back the next day to play a 1st round playoff game against Nanticoke and Nanticoke ended up winning 11-1. Not discrediting Nanticoke because I think Kyle Pokrinchak is a great pitcher and thought it would be a good game because of it but seeing that score.... Yeah, I think Lakeland playing 4 games in 5 days hurt them.
TUNKHANNOCK SOFTBALL TAKES WVC DIVISION 2 TITLE
Nanticoke and Tunkhannock ended up facing off for a Division title on Friday afternoon with Tunkhannock coming out on top 3-1. The win gave Tunkhannock the 2 seed for the playoffs and Nanticoke got the 4 seed, which is going to be tough for them as Abington Heights is on the same side of the bracket. In hindsight, that could be a really good semifinal matchup if it happens. They would have to potentially face Valley View which could be a tough matchup for them because Valley View is usually a very good team in District 2. Tunkhannock will not have a tough road either, as they may end up potentially with Wyoming Area in the quarterfinals and potentially North Pocono in the semis.
CRAZY ENDING
The craziest ending to a game had to come in the Crestwood/Coughlin game. Coughlin was ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the 7th, Jimmy Albee led off with a single then advanced on a sacrifice bunt then stole third. He then scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 2. Then pinch hitter Brandon Brozena then drew a walk and was lifted for a pinch runner in Matt Taleroski. Taleroski then stole second, and advanced to third on Derek Distasio's infield single. Then with James Graves up with two outs, another wild pitch occurred and Taleroski scored to give Crestwood the victory and a trip to Berwick in the quarterfinals
PITCHER'S DUELs
Cody Brown of Tunkhannock and St Joe's bound Jordan DiValerio both pitched great games. Neither pitcher gave up a run in 7 innings but Berwick would score in the 8th on an Austin Horsefield RBI single to give Berwick a trip to the quarterfinals. In another game, Hanover Area's Kyle Kowalski extended his playoff shutout streak as they knocked off GAR 2-0. GAR's Chris Kolativa came into the game undefeated at 5-0 and pitched well in defeat, only giving up 2 runs.
TITLE QUEST
Holy Redeemer softball will look to defend their 2A State Title, as they start on Wednesday as they have a bye in the first round. They will play the winner of Elk Lake/Wyoming Seminary in the quarterfinals. Holy Redeemer is the No 2 seed because of a coin flip but that doesn't mean they aren't the favorite to take the District Final and possibly go deep into states.
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