A LOOK AT NTL, DISTRICT BASEBALL STANDINGS (2021-04-29)

Northern Tier Sports Report
It’s the beginning of the final stretch for spring sports, with just four weeks left in the regular season for baseball. Yet, the two NTL division races are just heating up, with district seeding still up in the air.

NTL 

Division-I

Wellsboro (4-1 division, 6-3 league, 6-5 overall)

Wyalusing (2-0 division, 3-2 league, 5-2 overall)

Athens (3-3 division, 6-5 league, 6-6 overall)

NP-Mansfield (2-2 division, 4-4-1 league, 6-5-1 overall)

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

Towanda (1-3 division, 1-6 league, 1-8 overall)

It’s going to be a dog fight these final weeks for the Division-I title, as four teams realistically have a shot at being on top.

The Hornets edge out the Rams by virtue of their league winning percentage, and they’ve already played the toughest cross-over opponents in Canton and Sayre. 

However, they did lose to Wyalusing, whom they have to play again, along much of their other divisional rivals.

The Wyalusing baseball team can start playing Friday (tomorrow), so they’re in better shape than their softball team, but they still have a lot of games to make-up. They have a double-header with NP-Mansfield to start, but also need to play Troy and Towanda twice, along with a cross-over game with Sayre.

Athens is trying to come out of a mid-season malaise, but after falling two games under .500 have seemed to stabilize. They are three games back of the Rams in the loss column, but have played their toughest cross-over games, while still have a chance to gain ground on Wellsboro, and Wyalusing when they face them again.

NP-Mansfield had a rough start to the season, but seemed to a hit stride over the middle portion of their schedule. They’ve suffered some setbacks recently, but, just two games behind Wyalusing in the loss column, they still have a shot at being on top - starting with their double-header against the Rams tomorrow (Friday).

The young Troy team is more focused on getting back to .500 as they’re trying to break a 3-game losing streak. They can start tomorrow (Friday) as they travel to Wellsboro.

The Knights’ lone win was against NP-Mansfield, but have played some good teams tough, so they could be a spoiler down the stretch.

Division-II

Sayre (4-0 division, 8-0 league, 10-0 overall)

Canton (3-1 division, 9-1 league, 11-2 overall)

CV (2-2 division, 4-6 league, 6-7 overall)

NEB (1-2 division, 2-6 league, 2-6 overall)

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

This race is much more clear cut, with just two teams at the top.

Sayre dominated the early part of their schedule, but have looked a little more vulnerable recently. They needed extra innings to take down Troy, and Wellsboro played them tough.

Right now, though, Canton is the only team close enough to get them. The Warriors have taken care of business in cross-over games - beating all Large School teams - and have positioned themselves right behind the Redskins.

In their first meeting Sayre pulled away to win 20-7, so Canton is definitely the underdogs going in, but they’ve given themselves a chance.

CV has quietly pulled close to .500 on the year, getting wins over Towanda, and Wyalusing. They’re slated to take on NEB tomorrow (Friday). 

The Panthers have done a good job getting out to early leads, only to see them disappear in the end - Canton, and Athens in particular. If they can put a run together they still have enough games to get their record to even.

-Standings are from the NTL web site.

DISTRICT IV

CLASS A

SJN (9-1, .642 Rating)

CV (6-7, .418)

Benton (5-5, .390)

Sullivan Co. (4-5-1, .373)

NEB (2-6, .336)

Galeton (3-6, .308)

Millville (2-6-1, .276)

Bucktail (2-9-1, .230)

SVRC (0-9, .152)

A wide open field under Neumann, with the makings of a small bracket.

Interestingly, even though CV is currently under .500, if the post season started today, they would make districts, because there is a .500 team underneath them in the ratings. The lowest rated .500 team on up qualify for the playoffs, so that could be in play here.

Along with CV, Benton and Sullivan County out of the Mid-Penn will look to make the postseason, with NEB and Galeton the next likeliest teams.

The semifinals and finals will be played either at Central Columbia, or Bowman Field.

Another thing to note, baseball games must be finished by Wednesday, May 19 to count towards district seeding, as the playoffs could start on Saturday, May 22. That gives baseball a few less days than softball to get everything in.

CLASS AA

Sayre (10-0, .774)

So. Columbia (8-2, .687)

S. Williamsport (8-3, .666)

Canton (11-2, .653)

Line Mountain (7-3, .589)

Wyalusing (5-2, .578)

Montgomery (6-3, .523)

Muncy (6-5, .424)

E. Juniata (5-5, .409)

Troy (3-7, .354)

Williamson (2-7-1, .287)

The class that could play havoc on the scheduling committee, because, as of right now, there would be nine teams in the playoffs.

And there’s a lot of quality, too - Canton has a winning percentage over .800 and would barely host a quarterfinal game.

Sayre is obviously the team to beat, having beaten not only Canton, but also South Williamsport this season.

The Rams are the wildcard team. They’ve shown they can play with anybody in the NTL, and could move quickly up the standings if they get hot.

A few teams at the bottom could also drop out - Muncy and East Juniata are holding on by the skin of their teeth - but if Troy gets hot, they could break in.

Either way, keep an eye on this bracket, it’s shaping up to be a crazy one, and the playoffs haven’t even started yet.

CLASS AAA

Central Columbia (10-1, .742)

Loyalsock (7-4, .605)

Hughesville (7-4, .569)

Wellsboro (6-5, .508)

NP-Mansfield (6-5-1, .468)

Mt. Carmel (5-5, .467)

Bloomsburg (4-8, .396)

Towanda (1-8, .256)

Warrior Run (0-8, .209)

Central Columbia is running away with the top seed as rivals Loyalsock and Hughesville battle for second.

Then it’s a 3-team race for the last home game in the quarters, as Wellsboro will look to hold of NP-Mansfield, and Mt. Carmel for the fourth spot.

Then again, there is no guarantee of a quarterfinal round, as the Hornets, Tigers, and Tornadoes are all close to the .500 mark.

CLASS AAAA

Montoursville (7-3, .653)

Midd-West (9-3, .637)

Danville (6-6, .561)

Jersey Shore (2-2, .552)

Athens (6-6, .448)

Lewisburg (4-7, .442)

Mifflinburg (2-8, .438)

Milton (2-9, .317)

CMVT (3-6-1, .308)

Shamokin (0-9, .257)

It looks to be a two team race for the top spot between Montoursville, and Midd-West.

In the fourth spot Jersey Shore needs to get at least eight games in to qualify, but have plenty of time for that.

Right now, Athens is just in the by skin of their teeth, but if they have a strong final stretch, they could make their way up to third, and get what looks like to be a bye, or at least a home quarterfinal game.

- Standings are from the District IV web site.