Week 6 picks: 8:37 p.m. start in Philly is at least good for area HS football

FROM KEITH GROLLER

A little late in getting the high school picks posted. That's because I slept in just a little bit later on this Friday morning, knowing tonight will be a late one.

Headed to Citizens Bank Park Philadelphia 002for Game 5 of the NLDS between the Cardinals and Phillies.

With it being an 8:37 p.m. start, you're looking at a finish around midnight, especially if it's close and Tony La Russa is making a pitching change per batter. La Russa will be making a lot of changes even if it's not close.

Give an hour to 90 minutes for the postgame interviews and to finish up our stories and we're looking at leaving South Philly around 1:30.

Should be minimal traffic by then, but still, we won't be getting off the Allentown exit of the turnpike until 3ish.

Not complaining, though. This is the first time I have had the experience of covering a winner-take-all baseball playoff finale. Had a few Game 5s and Game 7s when I covered the 76ers in what seems like another lifetime ago 1984-1994, but this is the first time in baseball for me, except for the Blue Mountain or Tri-County League finals.

Obviously, the 8:37 starts stink for those worried about deadline. There's a chance that some --- if not, a lot -- of our newspaper readers won't have the final score in their papers tomorrow.

It's a scramble to get things done and quality definitely suffers.

Cards-phils 030 But the one good thing I can find in these 8:37 starts is for the area high school football programs.

There will be little overlap with the high school games and the Phillies.

Most high school games end no later than 9:30 and that means sports fans still have time to see their favorite high school team play and still get home no later than the top of the fourth and have at least two hours of baseball still to watch.

So, I don't want to hear that the Phillies game is the reason you're staying home tonight.

With the weather getting colder as we push deeper into October, this might be one of the best weather nights left in the season.

I am looking for my best night of the season with the picks.

Last week I went 16-5 (second week in a row I had 16 right) and am now 86-25 on the season for a 77.4 percent success rate.

As for my personal top 10, the Weave will be happy because Nazareth stays on top:

1. Nazareth

2. Freedom

3. Whitehall

4. Easton

5. Liberty

6. Parkland

7. CCHS

8. Stroudsburg

9. Pen Argyl

10. Northern Lehigh

In Philly, as spunky as my Cardinals have been all week, this matchup is just too tough for them -- Phillies 7-1 behind another Halladay gem and a three-run home run by Ryan Howard. The Groller Curse won't allow me to see St. Louis celebrate in person. It's like getting to go to the shore on vacation and watching it rain all week.

Now to the high school games -- and by the way, CB South beat Quakertown 37-13 in one of those rare Thursday night games, so if you haven't filled out your Groller-Zambelli Challenge picks yet, make sure you pick CB South. Gave you a freebie there.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Parkland 56, Allen 7 ... Because the mercy-rule will be in effect, Mike Dobil, Tony Galucy, Howie Lessel and all of the Phillies fans in the Parkland press box will be able to get home -- or to their favorite game-viewing venue -- in time to see Halladay's first pitch of the top of the third.

Liberty 35, Emmaus 28 ... This is where I was headed until the Cardinals rallied to win Game 4. Expect a shootout here, but Hurricanes have too much speed.

Easton 49, Dieruff 0 .... Keep hearing that at least the Little Huskies middle school program is doing well.

Freedom 42, Northampton 14 ... Talked to Brian Schneider in the Phillies clubhouse on Thursday and he will be back in town for the Thanksgiving morning game against Catty, which should be quite competitive this year.

Whitehall 42, Central Catholic 35 ... The game of the night, and again one that should come down to the final possession. It's obvious Central's defense has improved, but has it improved enough to corral the Zephyrs? Vikings are playing for their playoff lives because they need to go at least 6-4 to qualify for District 11 3A tourney and tough games against Parkland and Emmaus still loom. Whitehall showed a lot of guts by going for two against Easton. This one could come down to more tough decisions late.

Southern Lehigh 27, Notre Dame 14 ... Spartans assistant coach MIke Feifel will be a guest on next week's "Calling All Sports" TV show.

Bangor 27, Catasauqua 20 ... Things get much rougher for Roughies during the second half of the season.

Northwestern 21, Palmerton 14 ... Picking against Blue Bombers was a mistake last week, but not this week. And where have you gone Ed Hedes? Thought I'd see you in Philly.

Saucon Valley 33, Salisbury 7 ... Wonder how Eric Frans is settling in at West Chester.

Wilson 28, Palisades 14 ... Good luck and best wishes to Pirates AD Rebecca George who, I am told, is expecting a child any day now.

Lehighton 28, ES South 21 ... The Indians are 2-3 with all three losses coming by seven points or less.

Pleasant Valley 42, PM West 13 ... Jimmy Terwilliger's gang is still in line for a District 11 4A berth.

ES North 33, PM East 27 ... I don't know them very well, but I like the coaches for these two teams. The Timberwolves just might be hosting a District 11 3A playoff game in Week 11 and some Lehigh Valley people might be looking at a long trip to Dingmans Ferry.

Minersville 34, Jim Thorpe 7 .... They can do more than just play softball in the land of the Battlin' Miners.

North Schuylkill 40, Tamaqua 12 ... Only chance for Tamaqua is if North Schuylkill is caught looking ahead to next week's big one at Mount Carmel.

Marian Catholic 26, Panther Valley 7 ... After having to deal with Pius X and North Schuylkill on back-to-back weeks, the Colts defense could use a breather.

Blue Mountain 34, Kutztown 7 ... Hope the O'Rourke family is hanging in there. Just talked to Phillies broadcaster Tom McCarthy yesterday and we both think about Larry every day. He may be gone, but will never be forgotten.

SATURDAY

Pen Argyl 34, Northern Lehigh 27 ... This one should be special. And it could very well happen again in about five weeks.

Nazareth 50, Becahi 20 ... Classic trap game for the Blue Eagles in between Central Catholic and Freedom. The Weave isn't worried, though. Our good friend is going with his alma mater, 42-14.

Pius X 48, University Prep 28... The Royals are on the road again and this a long one to western Pennsylvania. Don't know much about Prep except that it's a consolidation of several other schools, including Schenley. I don't know Pius and I do know that the Royals can score on just about anybody.

Wilkes-Barre Coughlin 21, Stroudsburg 19 ... Hate to go against the Mounties here because they have come through with wins when I've picked them on close calls before. Strictly using Williamsport as gauge here. Coughlin whipped Williamsport 28-0, while Stroudsburg beat the Millionaires 14-7.

Another 21-game salute to our high school kids. Hope to be back out at a game next Friday night, but for at least one more night, it's baseball season.

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