George Guido: Unfamiliar teams in baseball, softball playoffs

By: George Guido
Tuesday, May 7, 2019 | 4:44 PM

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When the WPIAL baseball and softball pairings are released later this week, some unfamiliar schools will be bracketed.

St. Joseph baseball and Springdale softball will be in the postseason for the first time this millennium, and the players from those teams are cascading toward age 40.

It has been so long, the field St. Joseph used for its home games is no longer a baseball venue. The field is a football venue: Don Bushman Stadium, where the Highland Hornets play their youth league games.

In the 2000 playoffs, St. Joseph lost an opening-round game to California, 5-4.

Springdale won at Brentwood, 5-4, in 2000 in eight innings at a time when the WPIAL had higher seeds opening the playoffs on their home fields. The Dynamos lost to Chartiers-Houston, 1-0, in the quarterfinals.

Another unfamiliar face in the postseason is Highlands baseball. The Golden Rams are in for the first time since 2003. That year, Highlands defeated Keystone Oaks, 4-0, in the first round before dropping a 12-2 decision to Neshannock.

On the other hand, there will be plenty of playoff standbys.

Leechburg softball is in the playoffs for a WPIAL record 33rd consecutive season. The ladies from the 1987 team that started the streak might get mad at me for bringing up the fact that they are soon reaching the Big 5-0.

But, truthfully, it’s one of those streaks the entire community can be proud of.

Burrell softball is in the playoffs for the 14th straight season and Burrell baseball qualified for the 21st time in 22 seasons.

One notable team missing from the playoffs will be Plum baseball. The Mustangs’ 12-year playoff qualification streak was halted this past weekend.

Don’t forget about the live playoff pairings coverage on TribHSSN.triblive.com.

Softball pairings will be at noon Thursday and the baseball pairings at noon Friday.

Time switch

Wednesday’s big Armstrong at Kiski Area baseball game time was moved to 4:30 p.m. because of achievement testing at Kiski Area.

The Cavaliers need a victory to secure a playoff spot. A loss would put Armstrong in the playoffs because the River Hawks will have swept the season’s series against Kiski Area.

Mars basketball

Mars had its boys basketball banquet late last week, and the Planets had plenty to celebrate.

Here’s just a sample:

• Seven straight section championships with a record of 83-7 and 154-42 overall.

• A 44-1 section home record during that time, with the only loss a 71-66 setback to Indiana on Jan. 8, 2014. Since then, 37 straight home section victories and 18 straight home wins overall.

• 12 consecutive WPIAL playoff appearances with an overall record of 230-83.

• This year’s seniors have a 92-24 overall record for four seasons with four straight WPIAL semifinal appearances and championships the last two seasons.

• Eight consecutive PIAA appearances with a 118-27 overall record in that period.

• Coach Rob Carmody has 325 career wins with the Planets.

Tags: Burrell, Kiski School, Leechburg, Plum, Springdale, St. Joseph