District 11 softball semis: What's going to happen next that we haven't seen before?

FROM KEITH GROLLER

I've been covering local high school softball for a long time and can't remember a year with more strange twists and turns than this one.

You had that bizarre situation at Pates Park a few weeks ago when the wrong pitching rubber was dug up and the wrong distance was used during the Lehigh Valley Conference semis.

And then you had that crazy, 15-14 game at Saucon Valley the other day when Becahi led 4-0, 6-2, 10-6, 14-10 and just fell behind once at 15-14 and that's when Mother Nature conspired against the Golden Hawks and play was halted and couldn't be resumed.

What's next? Well, something strange is bound to happen today as District 11 holds seven more games -- six semifinals in classes 2A, 3A and 4A and the 1A championship game.

I am hoping that the storms stay away and all the games can be played as planned.

But those of us who have been covering this stuff know better. It's going to rain and we're going to have delays and postponements. I just know it.

With the exception of that football score at Saucon Valley, there was plenty of good pitching in last week's quarterfinals.

I have a feeling the top hurlers will be on again today.

Here's how I see it:

Class 4A

I've already predicted a Nazareth-Easton final here, so I won't change now.

Emmaus battles Sarah Faust as tough as anyone, but I will still take Nazareth over Emmaus 3-1. Stroudsburg is the lone Mountain Valley Conference team left and a darn good one. A lefty pitcher can be quite effective in a big game and Stroudsburg has a good one in Jess Berger. The Mounties are tough and Ed McIntyre never enjoys Pates Park, but Easton has been the area's best team over the past month and may have too much offensive firepower. Rovers 5-3.

Class 3A

Finally, I get to see a Palisades-Saucon Valley matchup. Krista Morrone has her act together after that dominant performance against Wilson, but the Panthers are much tougher than the Warriors. I still think Morrone is the deciding factor and Palisades will generate enough offense to return to the district final. Pirates 6-2.

Pottsville survived five errors to beat Blue Mountain in the quarterfinals. Southern Lehigh has been hard to figure and has a few holes in its outfield defense. I predicted the Lady Tide to win this class and won't change now. Pottsville 5-3.

Class 2A

Pine Grove is tough. Hope Spancake is a strong pitcher who beat Pen Argyl in last year's district final. And that Green Knights offense was much tougher than this year's version. Bill Schankel and his staff have done another outstanding job, but Cardinals continue toward another district gold, 4-0.

Palmerton has been one of the most remarkable stories of the year. The Blue Bombers have arrived as a solid program and will stay around for several years to come. Northern Lehigh, however, has been playing excellent softball in recent weeks and has too much of everything for Palmerton. Northern Lehigh 4-2.

Class A

Don't know a thing about either team except that Minersville has won more district titles than anyone else (16). These two have combined for the last six Class A titles and nine of the 11 since the A classification began in 1999. Battlin' Miners 4-0.

FROM KEITH GROLLER