Five Titles on the Line This Weekend

It's the final championship weekend of the 2007-08 academic year and five titles are on the line - baseball, softball, men's lacrosse and men's and women's track and field.

Baseball
Johns Hopkins (16-2 CC, 30-5) is the prohibitive favorite entering the double-elimination event in Baltimore. The Blue Jays face Muhlenberg (11-7, 20-18) - one of two CC teams to hand JHU a defeat this season - in Friday's opener, while Franklin & Marshall (12-6, 18-15) plays host to Haverford (12-6, 25-12-1). All four schools head to the Charm City for the weekend. Hopkins is in search of its ninth Centennial championship in the 15-year history of the Conference, while the Diplomats look for flag number four. The Jays lead the Conference in team hitting (.394), pitching (3.92 ERA) and fielding (.960). Championship website

Softball
The four top softball teams in the Conference converge on Collegeville for this weekend's double-elimination championship tournament. Ursinus (13-3, 28-9) is the top seed and will meet Swarthmore (10-6, 21-16) in the first round, while Dickinson (12-4, 24-14) and Haverford (12-4, 22-14) tangle in the opener. The Bears have won four CC titles, while Haverford has one championship to its credit. Pitching makes all the difference in tourney play, so keep an eye out on Ursinus' Lauren Davis (23-4, 0.50 ERA, 259 K in 183.1 IP), Dickinson's Allison Jordan (14-6, 1.40, 146 K, 130 IP), Haverford's Becky Garibotto (9-5, 1.86) and Swarthmore's Kathryn Riley (16-7, 1.74, 152 K, 156.2 IP). Championship website

Men's Lacrosse
The best DIII conference in the country holds its final four at Clark Field in Gettysburg with traditional powers and a newcomer to the field. Gettysburg (7-1, 13-2), ranked third in the country, is the top seed and is in search of its 12th Centennial crown in 15 years. The Bullets will take on Muhlenberg (5-3, 10-4) - the hottest team in the Conference - in the first semifinal. The Mules are winners of their last eight and make their debut in the CC tourney. Two other top 10 teams meet in the other semi as #4 Washington (7-1, 12-2) squares off with #9 Haverford (6-2, 11-3). The Shoremen have won three CC titles and have appeared in the Centennial final every season since 2001. The Black Squirrels are looking to break through and reach their first-ever Conference final. Championship website

Track and Field
The best athletes in the Conference gather at the Battlefield in Gettysburg for the 15th annual Centennial championships. The Haverford men are the prohibitive favorite - after all, the Fords have won the previous 14 CC titles. The women's competition should be close, as two-time defending champion Haverford will be challenged by five-time champ Dickinson and four-time winner Gettysburg. Championship website