Softball league rankings: Hopefully the best is yet to come

FROM KEITH GROLLER

As we dry out from yet another rainy day, it's time for me, as the high school softball beat writer, to assess where we're at with this messy season.

I admit, I can't get firm footing on this landscape. The play has been too sporadic, the field conditions too soggy and too many players -- for one reason or another -- have been out of action.

You hope it's going to get better soon, and players will return, the weather will warm and things will start to click.

But it's later than you think.

There are just four weeks of regular season softball left, followed by a week (May 15-21) of league playoffs.

You've got your district seeding meeting on May 22, then two weeks of districts wrapped around Memorial Day, and then states beginning June 6. Hopefully, someone will win three state games and make it to Penn State for a state championship game on June 17.

Right now, the only team located within 45 minutes of our Morning Call building in downtown Allentown that seems to have a real legitimate shot of being in Happy Valley in mid-June is unbeaten Brandywine, which again is tearing it up in Berks Country.

As for around here, Southern Lehigh and Emmaus look very good and there are a lot of teams with potential. We'll see if any of it is fulfilled.

Your first league rankings:

LEHIGH VALLEY CONFERENCE

1. Emmaus (5-1, 3-0) ... Rachel Brown looked good against Nazareth, but getting Kayla Kresley, an all-league pitcher, could be back. Next: Hosts Whitehall on Monday.

2. Freedom (4-1, 4-0) ... Patriots doing a good job playing small ball. Next: Plays at Nazareth on Monday.

3. Liberty (5-1, 2-1) ... Still the most physically talented team in the league. Next: Hosts Allen on Tuesday.

4. Nazareth (4-1, 1-1) ... Like Liberty, there's a lot of offensive talent here. But Sarah Faust's return is going to be a big key if this team will ever achieve its goals. Next: Hosts Freedom on Monday.

5. Becahi (3-1, 1-1) ... Have scored in double digits in all three of its wins. Next: Plays at Northampton on Monday, Easton on Tuesday.

6. Easton (2-3, 1-1) ... Another hard-to-figure team missing a key player. Sara Rasley's return is much needed. Next:Hosts CCHS on Monday, Becahi on Tuesday.

7. Parkland (4-3, 1-2) ... Trojans were at least able to get in three nonleague games at Disney, so they are not as badly backed up as other teams. Next: Plays at Dieruff on Monday.

8. Northampton (3-2, 2-1)... K-Kids will probably hover around .500 all season, but Gollie definitely has potential. Next: Hosts Becahi on Monday.

9. Whitehall (2-2, 0-2) ... Having to play six games in this division will hurt its district chances. Next:Plays at Emmaus on Monday.

10. Allen (1-4, 1-2) ... Tiff White is an emerging star. Next: Plays at Liberty on Tuesday.

11. CCHS (2-4, 1-3) ... Have scored five runs in four losses. Next: Plays at Easton on Monday.

12. Dieruff (1-5, 0-3) ... Huskies impressed for a long time against Northampton, just couldn't get a hit. Next: Hosts Parkland on Monday.

COLONIAL LEAGUE

1. Saucon Valley (6-0, 4-0) ... This team can hit and score. Pitching is still the question. Next: Hosts Pen Argyl on Monday.

2. Southern Lehigh (7-2, 6-0)... It has been awhile since Brian Neefe has liked a team as much as he likes this one. Next:Hosts Palmerton on Monday.

3. Catasauqua (6-1, 4-1)... Nice to see Roughies rebounded from rough day against Southern Lehigh. Next: Plays at Salisbury on Monday.

4. Pen Argyl (3-3, 3-2) ... Green Knights will get better as season progresses. Next: Plays at Saucon on Monday.

5. Palisades (3-3, 2-3) ... Krista Morrone needs to get back to the circle soon or else the defending district champs won't even qualify for this year's tournament. Next: Hosts Northwestern on Monday.

6. Notre Dame (4-4, 3-3) ... Watch for rising Crusaders' star Tara Gorman. Next: Hosts Bangor on Monday.

7. Northern Lehigh (3-3, 2-3) ... Bulldogs can definitely score and have a terrific catcher in Erika Bowman, but pitching must improve if this team is going to get into league tourney. Next: Plays at Wilson on Monday.

8. Northwestern (3-3, 2-2) ... Like a lot of teams, pitching consisency seems lacking. Next: Plays at Palisades on Monday.

9. Bangor (2-3, 2-3)... Slaters have already surpassed last year's win total. Next:Plays at Notre Dame on Monday.

10. Palmerton (1-5, 0-5) ... Four losses have come by seven runs. This is still a team capable of making a run. Next:Plays at So. Lehigh on Monday.

11. Salisbury (2-5, 1-4) ... Another team that has already surpassed last year's win total. Next:Hosts Catasauqua on Monday.

12. Wilson (2-4, 1-4) ... Several key Warriors players are young, so growing pains are natural. Next: Hosts Northern Lehigh on Monday.


http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/