Here are 5 things to watch in the first round of 2022 PIAA District 6 baseball playoffs
District 6 baseball playoffs begin on Thursday and every Centre County school will be represented.
Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy is the only Centre County team in the District 6 Class 1A playoffs. The second-seeded Wolfpack will host seventh-seeded Conemaugh Valley on Thursday at 4 p.m.
No. 5 seed Bald Eagle Area will travel to Johnstown Thursday to take on No. 4 seed Richland at 4 p.m. in the District 6 Class 3A playoffs. No. 2 seed Philipsburg-Osceola will host No. 7 seed Penns Valley at 4 p.m. Thursday in the same bracket as Bald Eagle.
Bellefonte owns the No. 1 seed in the District 6 Class 4A playoffs and will face the winner of No. 2 Juniata and No. 3 Penn Cambria in the championship game at PNG Field. No. 2 seed State College will take on No. 1 seed Altoona in the District 6 Class 6A championship game at PNG Field.
Here are five things to watch heading into District 6 baseball championships:
Kahale Burns will torch you on the basepaths
Bald Eagle’s Burns is one of the fastest players in the District 6 playoffs in all classes. The sophomore shortstop has 11 stolen bases in 20 games and is 11-for-13 on stolen base attempts. He has also scored 19 runs on the season, is second in hits with 25, second in doubles (5) and tied for first in triples (1). He’s constantly looking for the opportunity to take extra bags when he’s already on base and should continue to be a threat.
Penns Valley has a chance to play spoiler against rival P-O
P-O is a well-oiled baseball machine. They’ve battled through adversity with an injury to outfielder Jeremy Whitehead and now hold a 14-4 record on the year. The Mounties have beaten Centre County and Mountain League rival Penns Valley twice this season, outscoring them 33-13 in both games. However, Penns Valley is a young and hungry team. Here’s their opportunity to strike in one of their most important games of the year.
Saint Joe’s has proven it belongs
Saint Joe’s is a program that continues to battle against the other Centre County teams outside of its conference. Their early-season battles with the likes of Bald Eagle and Penns Valley prepared the Wolfpack for their later schedule. Saint Joe’s has a 6-0 record in the month of May and has outscored opponents 97-67. Gaining a No. 2 seed in the District 6 Class 1A playoffs is a strong feat for the program that has earned every opportunity it has been given.
State College is looking for revenge against Altoona
Every year brings a new chapter to State College’s rivalry with Altoona. The two teams will take on one another in the District 6 Class 6A championship game at People’s Natural Gas Field in Altoona in the lone playoff game for each squad. While State College took the first game in a 9-7 eight-inning battle on April 14, Altoona got the better of the Little Lions with a 15-7 win on May 10. State College will be searching to take a victory in the season series in their biggest game of the year.
Watch out for State College’s Jack Messina
Messina has had a breakout season at the plate for State College. The Little Lions first baseman has a slash line of .360/.400/.980 with 16 runs batted in and two home runs. His batting average of .360 leads the team and so do his two homers. He will have every opportunity to build upon his stardom in the Little Lions’ championship game against Altoona.
This story was originally published May 19, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
