Here we are, one week into the District 4 playoffs, and there's plenty to discuss. So I offer you this District 4 notebook, just in time for the semifinals (well, most of them anyway).
Champions League: Yes, the semifinals for the Class AAA girls tournament were held Monday night. The semifinals in the other three tournaments are all tonight. But although two of the teams will have already seen their season end by the time you read this, it's worth noting that the girls AAA bracket is the only one of the four tournaments in which all four semifinalists have won district titles this decade.
Milton is the defending champion, Selinsgrove won it in 2002 and 2005, Danville claimed the 2001 AAA crown and the 2003 AA championship, and Midd-West earned the 2005 AA title.
Tigers to the left of me, Tigers to the right: So, who ya got in the Class A boys tournament? I picked Lewisburg to win it all last week, and I'm staying with that prediction. But I have to admit that the Tigers have a shot, especially since the other three semifinalists -- Benton, East Juniata and Southern Columbia -- all use that mascot.
NTL down to one: Between the four tournaments, there were 13 Northern Tier League teams, but only one is in the semifinals. That would be the Athens boys, who are the top seed in Class AA. They had a bye into the semis, so their first playoff game will be tonight against Selinsgrove.
HAC vs. HAC: The Heartland Athletic Conference basically puts teams in its three divisions based on school size. There are exceptions based on talent, which is why the Lewisburg boys and Montoursville girls both play in the HAC-I. If you're wondering how teams from different HAC divisions have fared against one another in the playoffs, it's gone the way you would expect.
For example, on the boys side, the HAC-I's Selinsgrove topped the HAC- II's Shamokin 2-0. In Class A, Lewisburg pounded the HAC-III's South Williamsport 7-2 in the quarters.
In girls action, the HAC-II's Warrior Run beat HAC-III entry Muncy, and Montoursville took out HAC-II side Mount Carmel. Also in Class AA, HAC-II runner-up Lewisburg blanked the HAC-III's Millville 10-0.
In Saturday's quarters, Montoursville beat Warrior Run, HAC-II champion Loyalsock took out HAC-III champion Southern Columbia, and Lewisburg beat the HAC-III's Bloomsburg.
Based on these results, it looks like the Heartland overlords did a good job dividing the teams.
Lycoming on a roll: As mentioned above, the Midd-West girls won the 2005 Class AA title. Since then, a Lycoming County school has won the championship every year: South Williamsport in 2006, Montoursville in 2007, and Loyalsock last year. Lycoming County has an excellent chance to make it four in a row, as three of the four finalists -- Montoursville, Loyalsock and Hughesville -- hail from the county.
Lewisburg is the only one standing in the way of another Lycoming County title.
n Sports reporter Todd Stanford covers high school soccer for The Daily Item. E-mail comments to tstanford@dailyitem.com.
Sports
Taking notes on districts
- Sports
-
-
H.S. Track & Field notebook: Better late than never
As soon as the Class AA boys javelin throwers were finished Friday morning, Lewisburg’s Brandon Smith left his fellow competitors at the throwing area and took off for Seth Grove Stadium track, trying to hurry while negotiating the heavy foot traffic of fans, coaches and athletes.
-
Keller runs to his first victory
Amazing. That was the simple reply from Cody Keller after capping the long comeback from injury win his first sprint car race Saturday night at Selinsgrove Speedway.
-
Zaktansky: Life lessons learned from an earthworm
On my hands and knees, I slogged forward.
The steady rain had long before soaked through my clothes and turned the ground underneath me into a slick film of runny mud. My back hurt, my fingers were caked with brown goop and my mouth was aching from holding a small flashlight as I slowly scanned the backyard. -
Indigo buntings grace the Valley
Summer is the best time for viewing a spectrum of colorful birds.
Like most bird species, it is the male who exhibits bright coloration. From the orange and black patterns of the northern oriole to the scarlet tanager and yellow warbler and the rose-breasted grosbeak — all make a spectacle of themselves. -
Don Steese column: Counting the days
Memorial Day weekend is traditionally the start of the summer vacation season. Kids are out school, the weather is beautiful and all is well with the world ... except for folks like myself, who find themselves counting the days until fall.
-
Hartley, Billas fight off heat
Melanie Hartley was drained, a puddle of nerves and perspiration after a brutal 400-meter dash. While the official thermometer at Shippensburg University flirted with 90 degrees on Saturday, the heavy dose of humidity had the packed house at Seth Grove Stadium sweltering.
-
Moore bags two medals
Matt Moore is a hard guy to please. Or at least, he finds it hard to take pleasure in his own track and field performances.
-
Ken Maurer column: More talk about bass
This past week I attended 2 meetings involving the PFBC.
The first was in Harrisburg where fish commission officials explained to the state senators why they want the DEP to place the Susquehanna River on the “impaired” list. DEP has refused once, and the PFBC has reapplied. -
Scott Dudinskie's high school baseball column: Reich still going strong
Bryan Reich feels it with every pitch he throws. Some would call it pain, maybe discomfort. The Milton right-hander chooses "annoyance."
-
State Track & Field updates
Get updates throughout the day on how Valley athletes are faring at the PIAA Track & Field Championships in Shippensburg.
- More Sports Headlines
-
H.S. Track & Field notebook: Better late than never
