Published: May 09, 2008 12:05 am            

Three area schools atop District 6 playoff seedings

After 30 years, Portage coach Larry McCabe has the top seeded team in the District 6 baseball playoffs.

The Mustangs, who earned the top spot in Class AA, are the only local school to do so in baseball. Two local softball teams – Greater Johnstown in Class AAA and Blacklick Valley in Class AA – head into the playoffs atop their respective classes.

For McCabe, it’s a milestone moment. Never before have his Mustangs been the top seed in the district, although he said that there were only two divisions, as opposed to the current four, for about 20 of his 30 seasons.

Portage (10-5), which beat Class AA power Bishop McCort and Class AAA school Greater Johnstown this season, also benefited from a change in the district’s power rankings. But McCabe said that doesn’t take away from his team’s accomplishment.

“It’s certainly an honor to these players,” he said. “To have a team that graduated a number of kids last year and have them play as well as they did this season, it’s a great credit to them.”

Portage will welcome a team from the Heritage Conference in the quarterfinals on May 19, it’s just not sure which squad that will be. No. 8 Penns Manor will host No. 9 Northern Cambria on May 15 with the winner advancing to face the Mustangs.

“You still have to win your two or three games to get out, but I always tell the kids, ‘If you have a nice season, you don’t have to travel,’ ” McCabe said. “That should be an advantage, to stay close to home.”

Greater Johnstown softball coach Randy Romesburg will get a chance to make use of that advantage this year, even if it means one more step than last season.

The Trojans got a bye to the Class AAA title game a year ago only to loss to 1-0 to Bellefonte at Boalsburg. This year, the Trojans will host a semifinal game on May 19.

Romesburg’s squad could get a rematch with Bellefonte, which is the fourth seed and plays No. 5 Somerset on May 15.

Johnstown (13-3) already beat Somerset 3-0 on the road and is scheduled to play the Golden Eagles again on Tuesday.

Romesburg is hoping that his team’s previous playoff experience pays dividends this year.

“This is our third year there,” he said. “We had a bunch of sophomores last year that are more experienced now.”

Blacklick Valley receives a first-round bye in Class A.

Coach Bill Zamboni’s Vikings will host either Portage or Moshannon Valley on May 19.

Zamboni could not be reached for comment on Thursday night.

        

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