North Schuylkill (15-6) vs. Williams Valley (20-0)
When/Where: Today, 4:30 p.m., Patton Field, Orwigsburg
Tickets: $5 adults, $3 students
How they got here: North Schuylkill captured the Division I wild card with a 3-0 victory over Tamaqua in a tiebreaker game Monday. Williams Valley won the Division II title with a 13-0 record.
About the Spartans
Head coach: Dominick Grasso (7th season, 11th overall)
League playoff history: Haven't qualified for league playoffs since event resumed in 2009. Last won Schuylkill League Division I title in 2007.
Projected lineup: SS Tiffany Lapotsky, CF Nadya Spotts, LF Brianna Schlauch, 3B Rachel Gricoski, 1B Chase Stokes, 2B Eliza Schally, RF Kelly Damiter, P Christie Hutira (15-6), C Abbey Peleschak
Notes: Coming off victory over Tamaqua in which Hutira pitched perfect game. ... Have won 3 straight and are 8-2 since 10-1 loss to Pottsville on April 24. ... Lapotsky and Schlauch are offensive stars. When they're on base and/or driving in runs, team is tough to beat. ... Young club starts two seniors (Spotts and Schlauch), three juniors and four sophomores.
About the Vikings
Head coach: Lee Reiser (21st season)
League playoff history: Qualified for second time in three years. Lost to Pine Grove 2-0 in 2012 semifinals.
Projected lineup: SS Hannah Nestor, CF Rayanne Hawk, 3B Kylie Doyle, P Cassidy Pinchorski (16-0), 2B Kate Whelski, DP Tianna Yanoscak, C Maura Kreiser, 1B Haley Nestor, RF Kyrsten Miller, LF Bindy Boyer
Notes: Defeated North Schuylkill 4-0 on April 17 in non-league game. Pinchorski struck out nine in a one-hit shutout and hit a home run in the third inning. Spotts singled in the fourth inning and was the only Spartan player to reach base. She also reached on an error in the seventh. ... Defending PIAA Class A champions have won 28 games in a row dating back to last season. ... Have not won league title since resumption of playoffs in 2009. ... Experienced club starts two seniors (Doyle and Pinchorski), five juniors and three sophomores. ... Have made 12 errors and allowed 14 runs all season (13 shutouts).
Marian (16-3) vs. Pottsville (14-5)
When/Where: Today, 7 p.m., Patton Field, Orwigsburg
Tickets: $5 adults, $3 students
How they got here: Marian won Division III title with 10-3 record; Pottsville took Division I crown with 12-0 mark.
About the Fillies
Head coach: Joe DeAngelo (5th season)
League playoff history: Qualified for third time in past four seasons. In 2011, playoffs were canceled by rain. In 2012, lost to Pottsville 10-1 in semifinals.
Projected lineup: CF Alex Stroia, 3B Gabby Cann, C Lindsay Nemeth, SS Bryianna Pearson, P Bethany Shaud (15-3), 2B Kaitlyn Kowker, 1B Mackenzie Joy, RF Ashton Galasso, DP Karlee Gimeno, LF Miranda Antiga
Notes: Fillies' only losses this season have been to Williams Valley (10-1), Minersville (9-1) and Tri-Valley (10-1). ... Went 10-0 in Division III games, including sweep of Nativity. ... Riding 8-game winning streak. Averaging 10.5 runs and 10.9 hits during stretch. Also made just 6 errors in past 8 games. ... Will need to hold up defensively and put some runs on the board early to compete with Pottsville.
About the Crimson Tide
Head coach: Chuck Rinaldo (8th season)
League playoff history: Qualified for fourth straight season (wild card in 2011 and 2013; division champion in 2012 and 2014). Playoffs canceled by rain in 2011. In 2012, defeated Marian 10-1 in semifinals, lost to Pine Grove 7-6 in final. In 2013, lost to Tri-Valley 6-5 in nine innings in semifinals.
Projected lineup: CF Kyra Bulino, 2B Jolyn Rodrian, SS Morgan Alisauckas, 3B Caitlyn Herndon, C Cortney Dusel, DP Gabby Bentz, 1B Julie Bulino, RF Rachael Setlock, LF Micki Garland, P Sara Tobin (11-4)
Notes: Veteran club starts 6 seniors and 4 juniors, many of whom have been to league playoffs before. ... Ran Division I table with perfect 12-0 record. ... Went 2-5 in non-league games, falling to Daniel Boone, Hamburg, Minersville, Emmaus and Bethlehem Liberty. Scored 1 run total in those five losses. ... Hit somewhat better down the stretch. ... Division I recruit Alisauckas leads team with 5 HRs. ... Tide stood at 6-4 on April 19; they've gone 8-1 since.
- Compiled by Bob Lipsky