PIAA District One Playoffs: Baseball and Softball Previews

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

AAA BASEBALL:
Last year's winner: West Chester Henderson (state champs)

Top 4 Seeds: Council Rock North (N1), Marple-Newtown (S1), Pennridge (N2), West Chester East (S2)

North Penn's Bryce Mengel

Montgomery Media Cinderella: North Penn (8) - The 2009 state champions still have a handful of men that have been through the playoffs and know what it's all about. Catcher Craig Lepre has been arguably the most clutch hitter in the district this season, but coach Bob McCreary knows pitching is what will take you far. If sophomore Bryce Mengel, who already has first-team honors to his name as a freshman, can take the next step in his promising career it could be enough to knock off Marple-Newtown in the second round.
Others to watch: Spring-Ford (3), Pennridge (2), Plymouth-Whitemarsh (11)

Prediction: Pitching wins out and C.R. North has two bonafide aces. C.R. North (1) over Conestoga (3)

AA BASEBALL:
Teams to watch: Upper Moreland (2), Pope John Paul (4), Lower Moreland (5)

Prediction: Upper Moreland (2) over Holy Ghost Prep (1)

A BASEBALL:
Last year's winner: Christopher Dock (state champions)

Prediction: Christopher Dock (1) over Bristol (2)

AAAA SOFTBALL
Top 4 Seeds: Neshaminy (1), Hatboro-Horsham (2), Bishop Shanahan (3), Council Rock North (4)

Souderton's Liz Parkins

Montgomery Media Cinderella: Souderton (6) - Nobody finished the regular season stronger than the Indians and their pitcher Liz Parkins lifted herself into the elite class of arms in the district. If the season was a week longer they could have possibly won the league and been the two seed in this tournament.
Others to watch: North Penn (8), Wissahickon (13), Plymouth-Whitemarsh (18), Norristown (21)

Prediction: Hatboro-Horsham (2) over Owen J. Roberts (5)

Dock's Holl Seiz

AAA SOFTBALL
Teams to watch: St. Basil (5), Pottsgrove (8), Pope John Paul (10)

Prediction: Nazareth (1) over Springfield (D) (3)

AA SOFTBALL
Teams to watch: Christopher Dock (1), Springfield (M) (2)

Prediction: Christopher Dock (1) over Springfield (M) (2)