FROM KEITH GROLLER
With this being the last day of April, I'll give you a recap of the high school softball games I saw in this month (plus one in late March):
March 31: Notre Dame at Saucon Valley.
April 6: Parkland at Northampton.
April 7: Northern Lehigh at Northwestern.
April 8: Easton at Bethlehem Catholic.
April 13: Liberty at Whitehall.
April 15: Emmaus at Nazareth
April 17: Southern Lehigh vs. Pen Argyl (online only) at Pates Park.
April 19: Pleasant Valley at Nazareth.
April 21: Pen Argyl at Palisades.
April 27: Freedom at Parkland.
April 28: Palisades at Palmerton.
April 29: Liberty at Emmaus.
April 29: Palmerton vs. Salisbury (pinch-hitter as PA announcer at Pates).
I like to think that's a pretty good mix of games. I've seen 19 different teams in person (9 each in the LVC and Colonial League, plus Pleasant Valley in the MVC) and no one more than twice. Sorry I can't see all teams, even the ones that haven't won a league game, but with space limitations we have to pick the games that offer the most meaning in terms of the league races and unforunately for them, the Dieruffs, Bangors etc. are not in any sort of league race.
And here are our The Morning Call players of the week we've had so far this season:
April 9: Tamara Stubits, No. Lehigh; Katie Gross (Moravian, Parkland)
April 16: Liz Presto, Becahi; Krysten Rockovits (Northampton CC, Catasauqua)
April 23: Taylor Rundatz, Palisades; Jamie Lindsay (Lehigh-Carbon CC, Dieruff)
April 30: Sara Rasley, Easton; Briana Knipe (Kutztown U, Liberty).
Again, I think that's a pretty good mix of current high school players --2 Colonial League, 2 LVC -- and four college players from four different area high schools.
I put this all out there as a matter of record.
Oh, I am still going to get the old "You always cover that team and never say anything good about our team" baloney. It would not be a Lehigh Valley girls softball season without that kind of stupidity coming from some corners. But if you really pay attention and take note of the above list -- you'll know better.
Now, as we move into May, it's quite likely we'll lose some of that balance and start covering more games of the teams on the rise, the teams playing the most meaningful games.
And there are some great ones to come in the next two weeks as we storm toward the regular season finish line.
How do the league races shape up:
In the Lehigh Valley Conference where most teams have five league games left, several frontrunners have emerged.
In the West Division, Emmaus is up by two games on Allen and should go on to win the division.
In the North Division, Nazareth has a two-game lead on Northampton and is up three games on both Parkland and Whitehall. Even though the Blue Eagles' pitching situation is somewhat shaky, they should win this division, although a win over Liberty on Monday would be a big help.
In the East Division, Liberty has only a two-game lead on both hard-charging Becahi and Easton, but should hold on for the division title.
In the race for the wild card, the three top contenders are Becahi, Easton and Northampton. The Konkrete Kids have a brutal schedule with five very tough games left.
Before they get back into division play, Easton has to play Dieruff, Northampton and Nazareth, while Becahi has to play Dieruff and Emmaus. Edge to Becahi. I see the wild-care race coming down to the last game of the year -- Becahi at Easton -- on May 13.
In the Colonial League five teams are battling for four spots.
Remember, the CL takes the two division winners and the next two best records. Three teams from the same division can make it.
And right now, that's a great possiblity with Southern Lehigh (9-2), Saucon (9-2) and Palisades (8-3) all looking good in the South.
Barring a collapse, Pen Argyl (9-2) will be the only North Division rep.
Northern Lehigh (7-4) is the only team with a chance of cracking the Final Four and the Bulldogs do have a win over Palisades as a tiebreaker edge, which could come in handy.
The North Division is weaker than the South, but Catty, Northwestern and Palmerton are all dangerous teams and could derail Northern Lehigh's bid to get into the top four as the Bulldogs go through the division for a second time.
In addition to the league races, teams will be looking to nail down District 11 tournament berths.
On the bubble in the LVC - Allen, Northampton, Whitehall, Parkland and Freedom.
On the bubble in the Colonial - Wilson, Notre Dame, Northwestern and Catty who all need to finish strong in the next two weeks to qualify.
FROM KEITH GROLLER
On this page I will have all information on sports events from Nazareth High School and all other sports events in the country. I will also have news about myself and other people.
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