Weekly Rewind: Bulldogs Baseball Edition

Well there isn’t much to touch on this week. We’re down to one area team still playing a spring sport and that’s the West York baseball team.

The Bulldogs, who finished third in the District 3 Class AAA tournament, are on a seemingly surprise run through the PIAA Class AAA tournament.

But, if you look a little closer, a District 3 club making a run through the western side of the bracket isn’t all that uncommon.

Two years ago, Hershey finished fourth in 3-AAA and advanced to the state final through the west before falling to fellow District 3 member Conrad Weiser in the state final.

Then, last year’s 3-AAA third-place team, Northern York, cruised through the west and won it all.

So, West York is following a path well-traveled.

The Bulldogs (23-4) started their long-distance bus rides to Blair County by ripping District 6 champ Hollidaysburg, 10-0, in five innings last Monday.

Then, after sitting through a two-hour rain delay, the Bulldogs rolled over District 7 runner-up Belle Vernon, 6-2, Thursday.

Monday's win was, arguably, the most impressive.

Blackhawk rode a strong pitching staff to a District 7 title and a spot in the state semifinals. No matter, the Bulldogs made it look easy with an 8-1 win over the Cougars, who elected to rest sophomore ace Brendan McKay.

Now, West York is done with the schools in the western half of the state.

The Bulldogs will meet Lampeter-Strasburg, the District 3-AAA champion, Friday at 6 p.m. in the Class AAA title game at Penn State University’s Lubrano Park.

The Bulldogs and Pioneers did not meet in last month's District 3 tournament.

Regardless of which team wins Friday, it will be District 3’s third straight Class AAA state title.

Coaching changes: On another note, there was some news out of Lebanon County this week. Successful Cedar Crest baseball coach Chris Groff, who led the Falcons to District 3 Class AAAA titles in two of the last three years stepped down to spend more time with his family.

On Monday, ELCO football coach Mark Evans resigned after 14 years as the Raiders head coach to take over at Manheim Township, a Class AAAA school that competes in Section I of the Lancaster-Lebanon League.

And, finally, some huge news. Legendary football coach George Curry was hired as Berwick's new coach on Monday.  Curry, 68, built a powerhouse program at Berwick, which included six PIAA Class AAA titles, before resigning in 2005 and taking over at rival Wyoming Valley West.

In the six years Curry was away, the Bulldogs captured only one District 2-AAA title under Gary Campbell.