With just one weekend of football left to play, there are two area playoff contenders left.
For one, the situation is relatively clear. For the other, that is not nearly the case.
Let’s get right to the point:
n GENEVA — As I suggested it might last week, this one is going right down to the wire. The only twist from the Eagles’ point of view is that its final game of the regular season, its matchup at Gilmour Academy, won’t be played until Saturday afternoon.
As we have discussed, there are eight playoff spots available in each region, including Division II, Region 5, in which the Eagles currently sit in the eighth spot with 15.95 computer points. Four schools — Lake Catholic, West Geauga, Highland and Ashland — have clinched higher finishes than Geneva. That leaves 10 other teams (Howland, Aurora, Canfield, Ravenna, Walsh Jesuit, Cloverleaf, Kenston, Roosevelt, Copley and Revere) in the picture with the Eagles on some level. Geneva must finish at least fourth out of these 11.
If the Eagles win on Saturday, I would say they will likely finish with between 18.3 and 18.95 points. The Gilmour game is worth 1.35 points to them, so if they lose, that range becomes 16.95-17.6. Basically, what it comes down to is that if they defeat the Lancers, they have a reasonable chance that depends on many other outcomes. If they lose, they still have a shot, but the odds decrease significantly.
One of the more interesting situations embedded within all of this involves Aurora and Kenston, who face each other tonight at Aurora. If Aurora wins, it will finish ahead of Geneva and the Bombers will finish behind it. But if Kenston wins, both it and the Greenmen would both be neck-and-neck with Geneva, if it wins on Saturday.
At any rate, I see the Lakeside-North matchup as a potentially important one for the Eagles. A Dragon win would provide 0.6 second-level points to Geneva.
Eagle followers should also root for Kirtland over Newbury and Jefferson over University School. Madison over Riverside also, but as Geneva defeated both of them, the difference there would be only .05 points, and is attributable to the fact Riverside is in a bigger division.
n PERRY — After trying to sort all of that out, this should be refreshing. It’s very simple: If the Pirates win, they will make it. If they lose, although that alone will not eliminate them, their prospects become very unlikely.
There is just one problem with this, and that is that the team Perry must beat is Chagrin Falls, which has beaten all nine opponents, including the three to which the Pirates have already lost.
Perry is also situated in eighth place in its region (Division IV, Region 13) with 10.2 points.
Thanks to www.joeeitel.com, from which information was used that helped to determine some of the above.
Goldman is a freelance writer from South Euclid. Reach him at steve558@roadrunner.com.
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STEVE GOLDMAN
Discussion
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Bound for Columbus!
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A Vince Peluso column: GV finds a way, though that way is quite unclear
It’s tough to sum up what happened on Friday at Carl “Ducky” Schroeder Field at Massillon Washington High School when Grand Valley advanced to the Division III state semifinals by beating Ursuline, 12-11.
I can tell you that Stanley Sirrine delivered the game winning hit. -
Scholastic Statistics:
BASEBALL
DIVISION III
REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Grand Valley 12, Ursuline 11 -
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BASEBALL
Major
n Angels 7, Tigers 6
n WP — Grant Kingston.
n Other — Kyle Van Allen (T) 1 S, 1 D, Brandon Santiago (T) 1 D; Kingston (A) 2 S, Davey Amsdell (A) 2 S, Alex Tulino (A) 1 S, 1 D, Ethan Barker (A) 1 S. -
Scholastic Schedule:
SATURDAY, MAY 26
Track and Field
Regional
Division II
at Bedford High School
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Mustangs move on!
The Grand Valley Mustangs used timely hitting, strong pitching and a dazzling play in the field to continue their impressive run through the Division III state playoffs as they knocked off the Orrville Red Raiders, 7-4, in a regional semifinal at Carl “Ducky” Schroeder Field at Massillon Washington High School.
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A Vince Peluso column: GV a long way from satisfied
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Scholastic Statistics:
BASEBALL
DIVISION III
REGIONAL SEMIFINAL
Grand Valley 7, Orrville 4
at Carl “Ducky” Schroeder Field, Massillon Washington High School -
Scholastic Schedule:
FRIDAY, MAY 25
Baseball
Division III
at Massillon Washington High School
Regional championship
n Grand Valley vs. Ursuline (5) -
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