NTL SOFTBALL: STILL A LONG WAYS TO GO IN LEAGUE, DISTRICT BATTLES (2021-04-29)

Northern Tier Sports Report
A rainy day means no sports, but it also means a chance to take a look at the NTL and District IV softball standings.

NTL

Large School

Athens (4-1 division, 8-2 league, 10-3 overall)

Wyalusing (1-0 division, 2-1 league, 2-4 overall)

Wellsboro (3-2 division, 5-3 league, 8-3 overall)

Troy (2-3 division, 4-4 league, 4-4 overall)

Towanda (1-3 division, 3-5 league, 3-6 overall)

NP-Liberty (1-3 division, 3-6 league, 4-7 overall)

If anything is certain is Division-I, it’s that nothing is. 

Athens currently has the best winning percentage in the league standings, which is what counts to the title, but are coming off a loss to NEB. They still have Wellsboro and Towanda one more time, and two more against Wyalusing.

The Rams are the wildcard, since they’ve played just three league games - a big win over Sayre, a close win over Wellsboro, and a close loss to NEB. They can’t compete until May 5, which means it will take a herculean effort to for them to get their league schedule in by May 22.

Yet, results this season suggest they’re going to be in the hunt of the title, even if they’re going to have a frantic finish to the end of the season.

Wellsboro isn’t out of it by any stretch, but will likely need some help. They can help themselves with wins over Athens, and Wyalusing the second time they play them.

Troy has surged back to .500, and, with four losses, still have an outside shot to battle for the league title, but will have to be near perfect the rest of the way. That starts Friday as they travel to Wellsboro. The Trojans still have to play Wyalusing twice, along with NEB.

It’s been a rough week-and-a-half for the Knights. They’ve gone 1-4, but, could have seen themselves be 4-1, and in position to move up the standings. Right now, them, and NP-Liberty, will be looking to climb the ladder back up.

Small School

NEB (3-0 division, 8-0 league, 8-0 overall)

CV (2-0 division, 3-2 league, 7-2 overall)

Canton (2-2 division, 4-4 league, 8-5 overall)

Williamson (0-2 division, 1-5 league, 1-7 overall)

Sayre (0-3 division, 0-9 league, 0-10 overall)

NEB has been the class of the league so far this season - showing their toughness by pulling out close wins. In cross-over play they’ve already beaten Wyalusing, Wellsboro, Athens, Towanda, and NP-Liberty, and defeated Canton on the road.

With a 2-game lead in the loss column, and many of their toughest games behind them, Friday’s contest with CV could decide whether the race is over early, or if continues. Should NEB win they’ll be three games up in the loss column on CV, and it’s hard to see (though, not impossible) the Panthers losing three NTL games the rest of the season.

The Indians’ loss to Towanda last weekend stings here, as they’ll likely have to beat NEB twice, while also winning out, to possibly get a divisional crown.

Canton’s loss to Troy likely knocks them out of the division title race, but they still have district seeding to play for. They also get their chances at NEB and CV again, along with playing Wyalusing.

-Standings are from the NTL web site.

DISTRICT IV

CLASS A

NEB (8-0, .742 - Rating)

Montgomery (9-0, .695)

CV (9-2, .599)

Canton (8-5, .469)

Bucktail (7-3, .466)

Millville (7-3, .461)

Galeton (1-5, .263)

Sullivan Co. (2-8, .253)

SVRC (1-8, .207)

Benton (0-10, .189)

SJN (0-8, .170)

It’s going to be a battle to the end for playoff seeding in Class A.

A team has to be .500 or better to make the district playoffs, so it’s looking like a 3-team bracket at the moment, which means the top two spots would get a bye into the semifinals. The semifinals and finals will be played either at Warrior Run’s Moser Complex, or Elm Park in Williamsport.

NEB is currently holding off the Raiders for the top spot, with CV solidly, but not comfortably, in third.

Canton has been behind Bucktail most of the season, but just slipped past them into the crucial four spot. The fourth seed would host a playoff game.

But Bucktail, and Millville are right on Canton’s heels for that first round hosting slot. 

CLASS AA

Line Mountain (8-2, .592)

Muncy (7-2, .531)

E. Juniata (5-2, .508)

Troy (4-4, .472)

Southern Co. (3-7, .421)

Lourdes (4-7, .398)

Wyalusing (2-5, .381)

S. Williamsport (2-5, .337)

Williamson (1-8, .298)

Sayre (0-10, .236)

This class is a little more wide open, especially with so many games still left to be played, or hoped to be played.

The defending district champions Line Mountain have a firm hold on the top spot, followed by Muncy, and East Juniata.

Troy has moved into the top four, and, if the playoffs started today, they would be in.

Southern Columbia, Lourdes, Wyalusing, and South Williamsport are all on the outside looking in, but with half their games or more left, there is plenty of time to move up.

CLASS AAA

Loyalsock (9-1, .755)

C. Columbia (10-1, .705)

Lewisburg (5-3, .619)

Bloomsburg (6-3, .594)

Montoursville (7-5, .555)

Wellsboro (8-3, .546)

Warrior Run (4-5, .482)

Towanda (3-6, .374)

NPL (4-8, .339)

CMVT (5-8, .298)

Hughesville (1-3, .286)

One of the toughest brackets around, especially at the top with Loyalsock and Central Columbia.

The Hornets have room to move up, but will have to be near perfect the rest of the way to get all thew ay up to the fourth seed.

Towanda is on the outside looking in, along with NPL, but have plenty of time as they have more than half their games left.

CLASS AAAA

Danville (10-1, .786)

Shamokin (8-3, .638)

Jersey Shore (2-1, .587)

Athens (10-3, .574)

Midd-West (5-6, .509)

Selinsgrove (4-8, .485)

Mifflinburg (4-10, .424)

Milton (0-11, .283)

As of now only four teams would qualify for districts in this bracket, with the Wildcats one of them. They’ve essentially qualified by guaranteeing themselves a .500 record thanks to their 10 wins.

If this holds they would move straight to a semifinal against Danville, but Midd-West could sneak in, forcing Athens to host a playoff game.

Or the Wildcats could move up, especially if Jersey Shore doesn’t get at least eight games in. Teams need to play at least eight games to qualify for district play.

- Standings are from the District IV web site.