More area schools should be willing to host playoff games
By JEREMY SELLEW
jsellew@yourmvi.com
Three local baseball and softball teams remain alive for PIAA state championships as the spring sports season winds down.
The lone baseball team alive is Serra Catholic. The Eagles are the No. 3 seed from the WPIAL in Class 2A and will face District 6 champion Southern Huntingdon Monday in the first round.
On the softball field, in Class 2A, Frazier is the No. 4 seed from the WPIAL after a loss in the consolation game to Ligonier Valley. The Commodores will face the WPIAL champion, either Laurel or Shenango, on Monday.
In Class 4A, the Elizabeth Forward Warriors will look to get back to the PIAA state championship game. Runner-up in 2019, the Warriors enter as the No. 3 team out of the WPIAL and will face District 10 champion Franklin on Monday at a site in District 10.
Now that you’re updated on what is going on with our local teams, let’s get to why I’m writing the column.
Where were all the schools looking to host games? Mars, Plum, North Allegheny, Fox Chapel, Norwin, Latrobe, Montour … all the big schools. But I think the issue is there isn’t enough schools that are willing to host? Hosting equals at least a cut of money for the school district.
Look at Peterswood Park in Peters Township. It hosted its share of both baseball and softball games through Peters Township.
Why can’t that be Rostraver Township’s DiVirgilio Sports Complex? A great baseball facility, a great place for a softball game, plenty of parking. It just makes sense.
There are plenty of school district and municipal facilities in this region that would be perfect for some of our schools to jump on the opportunity to host playoff games. It takes initiative and the want-to. I think it at least gives some of our local teams the opportunity to play a little closer to home, especially when they are the higher-seeded team.
Of course, there is a solution to the problem of schools not offering up their facilities.
Go the COVID route. Just like basketball, let higher seeds host games. Get a higher seed, get to host a game. It makes the regular season and section games a lot more interesting, right?
In football, higher seeds get to play in their home stadiums for the first round. I think it should apply to all sports, at least for the first games of the postseason. Me personally, I’d like to see higher seeds play at home through the semifinals. Have the final four teams play at neutral sites, maybe even back to back at a facility.
• It’s good to see Coach Luke Mollis has a Charleroi Legion baseball team back on the field this summer. Growing up, I remember watching in awe at some of the talent our local Legion teams had.
Even more stunning to me this year, though, is that Colonial 3 and Connellsville aren’t fielding teams.
It’s a sign of the times, though, with how prominent travel-ball teams have become. Kids don’t want to play ball for the local squads as much. It’s all about travel, all about AAU.
College teams are out recruiting all these showcases and tournaments, which is fine. But one thing that will always hold true, no matter who you are playing for and which team you’re playing for, if you can play, coaches will find you.
• If you haven’t already, don’t forget to register for the best summer basketball league in the region! Signups are going on now for the Mon Valley Independent Summer Basketball League. Players from Belle Vernon, Latrobe, Norwin, Kiski Area, McKeesport, Serra Catholic, Hempfield, Laurel Highlands, Penn Hills, Peters Township, Carlynton and more have committed to the league and will be heading to Marx’s Court Time Sports Center this summer.
Tryouts begin Monday June 14. For more information and to register, check out the league website at mvisbl.com.
