Tamaqua (14-5) vs. Tri-Valley (16-4)
When/Where: Today, 4:30 p.m., Stump Stadium, Pine Grove
Radio: WMGH 105.5 FM, WPPA 1360 AM
Tickets: $5 adults, $3 students
How they got here: Tamaqua captured the Division I wild card with a 9-3 league record. Tri-Valley won the Division II title with a 13-3 record.
About the Blue Raiders
Head coach: Jeff Reading (13th season)
League playoff history: Defending league champions are in Schuylkill League playoffs for third time in six years. Defeated Nativity 5-2 for 2009 title, then beat Williams Valley 4-2 and North Schuylkill 2-1 in eight innings to win last year's crown.
Projected lineup: SS or P Bo Rottet (.461), 2B Nate MacDonald (.286), C Matt Roberts (.446), 1B or 3B Brett Kosciolek (.319), CF Daylon Barron/DH Owen Bates (.389), RF or LF Adam Bates (.328), RF or 1B Matt Minchhoff (.265), 3B or P Connor Hartung (.208), LF or SS Zach Coleman (.226)
Notes: Defeated Tri-Valley 7-2 in non-league game April 17. Blue Raiders scored five runs in top of seventh to break game open. Hartung threw six strong innings, giving up just three hits. .... Reading said Rottet (2-1, 2.42 ERA), Hartung (5-1, 2.20) or Ian Nicholls (3-0, 2.44) will pitch today. ... Rottet has 35 hits, 10 doubles and 22 runs scored, while Roberts has 29 hits and 28 RBIs.
About the Bulldogs
Head coach: Bob Felty Sr. (11th season)
League playoff history: Dawgs are in playoffs for second time in three years. Lost 4-3 to eventual champion Pine Grove in 2012 semifinals.
Projected lineup: 2B Collin Maurer (.353), SS Cale Bruso (.383), P Hunter Bordner (.415, 5-2, 2.60 ERA), 1B Devin Masser (.317), CF Chase Schaeffer (.361), LF Tyler Lucas/DH Billy Wagner (.351), C Hunter Herb (.204), RF Conrad Opozda (.320), 3B Jaden Buchanan (.235)
Notes: Went 8-2 to close regular season after non-league loss to Tamaqua on April 17. ... Bordner and Masser each pitched three innings against Tamaqua, with Jayme Snyder coming in for the seventh. ... Five players have 20 or more hits, while Maurer has scored 24 runs and Bordner has 23 RBIs.
Minersville (15-6) vs. Pottsville (11-8)
When/Where: Today, 7 p.m., Stump Stadium, Pine Grove
Radio: WMGH 105.5 FM, WPPA 1360 AM
Tickets: $5 adults, $3 students
How they got here: Minersville defeated Schuylkill Haven 5-3 on Friday in Division II wild-card tiebreaker; Pottsville won Division I title with 10-2 record.
About the Miners
Head coach: Del Hauck (32nd season)
League playoff history: Miners are in league playoffs for second straight year as Division II wild card. Lost 10-9 to North Schuylkill in last year's semifinals.
Projected lineup: 2B Collin Hashin (.286), SS Chris Leshko (.406), P Aaron Fritz (.448), 3B Matt Roberts (.286), C Luke Heffron (.407), 1B Zack Brown (.255), LF Dylan Stephen/DH Mitch Haney (.357), RF Dave Pedron (.278), CF Jon McBreen (.390)
Notes: Miners haven't played Pottsville in Hauck's 32 years at helm. ... Have won nine of last 10 since 6-5 start. ... Six losses are by a combined 11 runs. ... Heffron and Pedron each had two hits in Friday's tiebreaker victory, while Stephen pitched complete game. ... Fritz, who collected his 100th career hit Friday, has 28 runs scored, 26 hits, 25 RBIs, six doubles, three triples, two homers and 21 walks. Roberts has 30 RBIs, while Heffron has 28.
About the Crimson Tide
Head coach: Mike Welsh (4th season)
League playoff history: Crimson Tide are in league playoffs for second time in three years. Lost 5-2 to Nativity in 2012 semifinals. Also qualified in 2011 as Division I wild card, but playoffs were postponed after week of rain.
Projected lineup: CF Darion Jacoby (.333), 2B Ty Painter (.268), SS Travis Blankenhorn (.369), P Eli Nabholz (3-3, 3.94 ERA), 3B Mike Kuperavage (.241), RF Tyler Moser/DH John Toomey (.405), 1B Dan Doyle (.240), C Connor Hinchliffe (.189), LF Thomas Campion (.188).
Notes: Crimson Tide closed regular season by winning three straight and 4-of-5. ... Went 1-6 in non-league games. ... Still have non-league game with Conrad Weiser to make up. ... Blankenhorn leads team with 24 hits, eight doubles and 25 RBIs. ... Jacoby, a freshman, has scored 24 runs and stolen seven bases.
- Compiled by Leroy Boyer