Look ahead: York's week of May 9
It's officially postseason time in the York area...well for a few sports at least. The YAIAA lacrosse semifinals and championships will be held Tuesday and Thursday, then the YAIAA track and field championships follow on Friday. It's an action-packed week of high school sports. Here's a cheat sheet of what to keep an eye on:
Lacrosse
YAIAA tournament, Tuesday at Red Lion and Susquehannock, Thursday at Central York: The always-entertaining YAIAA lacrosse tournament kicks off this week, giving fans an appetizer to the district playoff entree.
On the boys' side, a pair of overtime rematches: Red Lion vs. Susquehannock and York Catholic vs. Central York. If either of these encores are as good as the first matchups, lacrosse fans are in for a great week.
On the girls' side, the top-three teams in the district will all be involved as York Catholic will take on Red Lion at Susquehannock, while Kennard-Dale and Susquehannock meet at Red Lion. York Catholic enters as the favorite after finishing the regular season undefeated and not allowing any opponent to score in double digits.
Track and Field
YAIAA championships, Friday 3:30 p.m. at Dallastown: All of the area's top track and field athletes will converge at Dallastown on Friday for the YAIAA championships. York-area fans should keep an eye on Red Lion pole vaulter Greg Potter, who finished second at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia and Dallastown's Justin Tracy, who has the area's best 400 time this season at 50.6 seconds. And fans will get to see if South Western's Lynne Mooradian can add a few more medals to her illustrious YAIAA career.
Boys' Volleyball
Central York at Northeastern, Thursday 7:15 p.m.: This has become the Rose Bowl of YAIAA boys' volleyball with two of the state's best teams squaring off. For volleyball fans, all eyes will be on this one at Northeastern Thursday night as the three-time defending state AA champs take on their rivals from across the Codorus Creek.
Other than a slipup against York Suburban in March, the Panthers have been perfect under first-year head coach Todd Goodling. The Bobcats, who swept Central twice last season, have yet to lose a game in non-invitational matches, and already have 3-0 wins over Saegertown and Parkland on their resume.
A share of the division title could also be on the line if neither team loses earlier in the week.
Softball
Central York at Dallastown, Monday 4:15 p.m.: A rivalry game with a division title on the line? Yes, please. Softball fans should be excited to see a rematch of April's extra-inning thriller when the Panthers won on a rare walk-off wild pitch in the eighth inning. The undefeated Panthers, who have yet to give up more than four runs to any YAIAA opponent, will clinch a division title with a win. The Wildcats can play spoiler and keep their division title hopes alive with a victory.
Susquehannock at Dover, Monday 4:15 p.m.: Here's another rematch with division title implications. Susquehannock handed Dover a 7-6 loss in April and now leads the Eagles by half a game in the Division II race. The winner will have sole possession of first place with less than a week left in the regular season. Can Dover leapfrog the Warriors in the standings, then lock up their second-straight division title?
Baseball
Littlestown at Eastern York, Monday 4:15 p.m.: Division III is a mess with three teams — Littlestown, York Suburban and Gettysburg — within a game and a half of the leader, Eastern York. This week should provide some clarity as Littlestown takes on Eastern and Gettysburg. The Bolts made easy work of the Knights in their last meeting, 11-1, but Eastern has won five of seven since then. Even with their outstanding pitching, the Knights could still use a few wins this week to get them on the right side of the district playoff bubble.