Minus a few makeup games, the postseason is here for area baseball teams.
Pottsville, Tamaqua, Tri-Valley and Minersville will battle for the Schuylkill League championship beginning Tuesday, while those four squads and nine others will take part in their respective district playoffs that begin a week from today.
A detailed look at the Schuylkill League semifinals will come in Tuesday's edition. For now, let's take a look at the District 11 and District 3 playoffs and what to expect when the seedings come out next Sunday.
District 11 AAA
Tamaqua, Blue Mountain and Pottsville have qualified for the District 11 Class AAA playoffs, which could consist of nine teams.
Saucon Valley, Lehighton, Northwestern Lehigh and Wilson have also earned berths, while Bethlehem Catholic (9-9) and Southern Lehigh (9-9) both have to win one of their final two games to qualify. Becahi faces Dieruff today and Nazareth on Tuesday, while Southern Lehigh has games remaining with Daniel Boone and Pennridge.
The current ratings accompany this column at left, but expect them to change. Bethlehem Catholic could end up with the top seed by rating if the Hawks win their final two games, but Tamaqua, Pottsville, Saucon Valley and Lehighton would get preferential seeds and leap over Becahi if they win their respective league championships.
Tamaqua is slated to finish its suspended "tie" with Hamburg on Wednesday, while Pottsville has a non-league game with Conrad Weiser to make up. Both of those games could impact the final ratings as well.
District 11 AA
This field is pretty much set, with local teams Pine Grove, North Schuylkill and Minersville joining Notre Dame-Green Pond, Pen Argyl, Salisbury and Catasauqua. The top seed will get a bye into the May 23 semifinals.
Notre Dame-GP will be the top seed unless Pen Argyl or Catasauqua wins the Colonial League playoffs. Pen Argyl faces Saucon Valley and NDGP takes on Catasauqua in Tuesday's semifinals, with the winners meeting Thursday.
If Minersville wins the Schuylkill League crown, the Miners would be No. 1 if Saucon Valley takes the Colonial League, or No. 2.
Pine Grove, currently seeded No. 2, is guaranteed to have a quarterfinal home game May 21, while North Schuylkill, currently No. 5, will open on the road. If nothing changes in the current order, Minersville will visit Pine Grove in the quarterfinals.
District 11 A
What we know is Tri-Valley, Schuylkill Haven, Marian, Williams Valley and Nativity have qualified, and that the Dawgs, Hurricanes and Colts will be the top three seeds.
What we don't know is if anyone else will join them.
Moravian Academy (7-4) and Lehigh Valley Christian (8-7) are currently listed as having winning records on the District 11 website, but it's unsure how many or if they have any games remaining.
Pius X could also make it if the Royals win their last five games - a doubleheader with Lincoln Leadership (Tuesday), Moravian Academy (Wednesdat), Plumstead Christian (Thursday) and Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg (Friday).
Williams Valley still has non-league make-up games with Upper Dauphin and Line Mountain, while Moravian Academy plays NDES today. That could shuffle the seedings from No. 4 down.
District 3 playoffs
Hamburg (AAA) and Upper Dauphin (AA) have qualified for the District 3 playoffs, with the 16-team Class AAA bracket beginning May 19 and the eight-team Class AA tournament starting May 22.
The Hawks were fourth in the District 3 power ratings through games played through May 8, behind West York, Lampeter-Strasburg and Greencastle-Antrim.
Upper Dauphin was No. 2 behind Susquenita, but that doesn't include Saturday's win over East Juniata. The Trojans also have games with Williams Valley (Monday) and Lancaster Country Day (Tuesday) that will count toward the rating points.
Both the Hawks and Trojans are assured of home games in the first round.
'Best Beard' winner
North Schuylkill senior Cody Moore, who is pictured above, is the winner of the "Best Beard in the Schuylkill League" contest.
Moore was nominated by teammates Matt Smarkanic and Ryan Hillbish. Tri-Valley's Devin Masser, Pottsville's Mike Kuperavage, Williams Valley's Trevor Whelski and Minersville's Aaron Fritz were also nominated.
Player of the Week Mac Ney, Upper Dauphin
The Trojans' senior played a key role in Upper Dauphin's 4-0 week of wins over Greenwood, Halifax, Line Mountain and East Juniata.
Ney had three hits and five RBIs vs. Greenwood, tossed a complete game in the win over Halifax and had four hits against East Juniata.
Honorable Mention: Dylan Stephen, Minersville; Steve Zimmerman, Pine Grove; Luke Stawick, Marian
(Boyer is sports editor and covers high school baseball for The Republican-Herald. Follow him on Twitter @pubsportsboss)Power Poll
Team Record Pvs
1. Tri-Valley 16-4 4
2. Tamaqua 14-5 1
3. Pottsville 11-8 2
4. Pine Grove 14-5 5
5. Blue Mountain 13-7 7
6. Upper Dauphin 16-2 10
7. Minersville 15-6 9
8. North Schuylkill 13-7 6
9. Schuylkill Haven 15-6 3
10. Hamburg 16-4 8
- Compiled by Leroy Boyer