Colonial League and LVC softball postponed; and Colonial League predictions

FROM KEITH GROLLER

UPDATE AT 1:45 P.M.

To no one's surprise, the Colonial League softball semis are also off. The LVC was postponed earlier.

So you have the same schedule for Weds. as you did for Tuesday. Unfortunately, you also have the same weather forecast.

LVC semis at Parkland at 5 and 7 with Northampton and Becahi in the first game and Liberty and Emmaus in the second.

And you have the same times and matchups at Pates Park for the Colonial League with Notre Dame vs. Southern Lehigh at 5 and Pen Argyl vs. Saucon Valley at 7.

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Once the Colonial League softball tournament begins, there are two favorites based on records -- Saucon Valley and Southern Lehigh.

However, Saucon has a history of not playing well at Pates Park in the playoffs -- league or district.

In fact, the Panthers have never won a title.

So, until they do it, it's hard to predict them to do it. To use a cliche I've never understood, they simply have too large a monkey on their backs.

Pen Argyl has been a very hot team down the stretch. Once everybody got healthy and on the same page, the Green Knights began to live up to their billing as a perennial Colonial League power. Deleila Schriner returning to the pitching circle was a big plus for Pen Argyl. Other than a 10-6 loss to Northern Lehigh on May 6, Pen Argyl did a good job of holding teams down in the second half of the season.

I covered the first Saucon-Pen Argyl game in Hellertown on April 18, and it was closer than the 10-4 final score would indicate. The Green Knights are a better team now.

I am going with the upset: Pen Argyl 6, Saucon Valley 4.

In the other matchup, Southern Lehigh made a statement with that big win over Saucon Valley Friday. The Spartans have the best shortstop in the league, probably the area, in Syracuse-bound Cori Ozanne and they have a talented catcher in Shelby Wilson. Overall, the infield defense is superb. Katie Tankred can be a very effective pitcher.

Notre Dame comes in playing good softball and the Crusaders can hit. Tara Gorman, Ericka Esposito and Christiana Donofry, to mention a few, are tough outs.

Solehi is in the playoffs every year and experience is a big plus at this time of year, and no one in area softball has coached more big games than Brian Neefe.

I see the Spartans winning another offensive-oriented game 5-2, and actually like their chances to win what would be their 26th Colonial League title, but first since 2003.

But before we can think about the finals, we've got to hope we can get the semis played.

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