THE WEEK AHEAD: STATE TRACK, PLAYOFF BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL DOT THIS WEEK (2023-05-22)

Northern Tier Sports Report
Quite possibly the biggest week of spring sports, especially this weekend with state track and baseball district title games.

TRACK & FIELD
Friday, May 26 - Saturday, May 27
PIAA Championships at Shippensburg University: A plethora of area athletes will be competing amongst the best in the state. Friday opens with the 1600 (NEB’s Gracelyn Laudermilch), followed by prelims for the 400 (Wyalusing’s Olivia Haley and Towanda’s Anna Dunn), 4x100 (Towanda), and 4x400 (Towanda). In the field the boys’ Class AA discus (Cantons Kyle Kapichok) is in the afternoon. On the Saturday will be the finals for the 3200, 400, 4x400, and 4x100, along with the boys’ Class AA triple jump (Towanda’s Logan Lambert) in the morning.

BASEBALL
Wednesday, May 24
Canton (13-7) vs Wyalusing (14-6) at Mansfield University, 4:30 p.m.: The District IV, Class AA semifinal. Both teams pulled away for opening round wins last Saturday. The Rams opened their season with 14-0 win over Canton way back on March 28. Coming into the playoffs the Rams had lost 3-of-4, while the Warriors have won six straight. The winner plays in the title game on Saturday at Bowman Field with a noon start.

Friday, May 26
NEB (8-10) at Benton (10-8) at Bowman Field, 4 p.m.: The District IV, Class A title game. The Panthers beat Benton 3-0 at home in the final week of the season, and ended the year winning 3-of-4 games to get into the second slot. Benton lost 3-of-4 to end their regular season.

SOFTBALL
Tuesday, May 23
Troy (12-7) at Wyalusing (13-7), 4:30 p.m.: The two teams went 1-1 on the year, with Wyalusing winning their first match-up 20-12 and Troy taking the second 6-3. After that loss, though, the Rams won three of their final four games to end the season. The Trojans ended the year winning five of their last six. The winner goes to the semifinals at Elm Park on Friday.

NEB (13-6) at CV (16-3), 4:30 p.m.: These two teams spit in the regular season, with NEB winning the first game 18-8, and losing the second 12-1. The Panthers finished the regular season strong, though, winning three of their last four. The Indians haven’t lost since April 21, and are riding a 9-game win streak into the playoffs. The winner goes to the semifinals at Elm Park on Friday.

Towanda (10-9) at Loyalsock (17-3), 4:30 p.m.: Towanda won their final game of the regular season to get into the playoffs. They’ve gone 5-3 in May to get in. The Lancer’s haven’t lost since April 22 and are riding an 8-game win streak into the playoffs. Both teams have losses to South Williamsport, Towanda 8-2, Loyalsock 11-3. The winner goes to the semifinals at Elm Park on Friday.

Thursday, May 25
St. John Neumann (11-8) vs Canton (12-8) at Elm Park, 3 p.m.: The Warriors will get a bye to the District IV, Class A semifinals. They’ve won five of their last six games going into the playoffs to nab the second seed. Neumann was sitting in the fourth seed, but then beat Southern Columbia 7-6 in their season finale to get the third spot. The winner goes to the title game on Tuesday, May 30.