Championship Weekend - The April Edition

It's time to raise the curtain on spring championship season with visits to Abbottstown, New Tripoli, and Lancaster, Pa., for the men's golf, women's golf and women's lacrosse tournaments. Follow us on Twitter for up-to-the-moment results from all three events. Here is a preview of what you'll see this weekend.

Men's Golf
The 2009 Centennial Conference championship will be hosted by Gettysburg College at The Bridges Golf Club in Abbottstown, Pa. on April 24-26. McDaniel is the defending champion and is looking for its fourth title in the last five years. The championship chase could be extremely tight over the 54-hole event. Franklin & Marshall has the lowest team stroke average at 309.9, with McDaniel (314.1), Dickinson (314.9) and Muhlenberg (315.1) all within one shot. The Diplomats have three of the five lowest individual stroke averages, led by junior Andrew Woods (Simsbury, CT / Simsbury) at 75.5. Dickinson soph Joey Goldstein (Potomac, MD / Winston Churchill) is second at 75.9.

Women's Golf
The 2009 Centennial Conference championship will be hosted by Muhlenberg College at the Olde Homestead Golf Club in New Tripoli, Pa. on Saturday-Sunday, April 25-26. Gettysburg is the defending champion, defeating McDaniel by the smallest margin in Conference championship history (10 shots). The Bullets and McDaniel appear to be the top contenders for the title. Gettysburg has the Conference's lowest team stroke average (368.2), while the Green Terror is less than two strokes back (370.0). The two teams have gone head-to-head twice this season with each squad winning once. Franklin & Marshall's Grace Gallagher (Scotts Valley, CA / Archbishop Mitty) has the third-best individual average (90.0) and has placed in the top five in seven of her eight events this season. Gallagher and three others – Gettysburg's Leah Tuscano (Aurora, IL / Waubonsie Valley), and McDaniel's Jennie Weiner (Stony Brook, NY / Ward Melville) and Nicole Christy (Towson, MD) – earned first-team All-Centennial honors last season by finishing in the top five at the tournament. McDaniel's Elyse Massa (Wescosville, PA / Emmaus) is the lone golfer with a sub-90 average (89.8).

Women's Lacrosse
One of the premier Division III tournaments in the country began on Wednesday as Dickinson upended McDaniel, 19-11, in the first round to advance to the final four in Lancaster. Waiting for the Red Devils (11-6) is top-seeded and second-ranked Franklin & Marshall (15-1), while fourth-ranked Gettysburg (13-2) squares off with Muhlenberg (10-3) in the nightcap. The two-time defending champion Diplomats and the Bullets have met in the final in each of the last six years. Dickinson and Muhlenberg look to advance to their first-ever final. Eight first-team All-Centennial players will be on display this weekend, headlined by Conference Player of the Year Hollis Stahl from Gettysburg.

There's a Chance

It's the final weekend of regular-season play in the Conference - in addition to being "Championship Weekend" for golf and women's lacrosse. When it comes to baseball, softball, tennis and men's lacrosse ... it's "white-knuckle" time. A time when a win and a timely loss by an opponent can lead to a playoff berth. A time when a defeat leads to sweaty palms and knots in the gut as you wait to find out your playoff future. But one thing is for certain as we enter the final stretch ... "There's A Chance."

Baseball
Ursinus (12-4 CC) can clinch the top seed for next weekend's tournament with a sweep of Gettysburg. A split or a Bullet sweep creates all sorts of possibilities. The Bears take the No. 1 slot in a 13-5 tie with F&M (11-5 CC). Haverford (11-5 CC) is the top seed in a 13-5 deadlock with Ursinus and/or the Diplomats. Johns Hopkins (11-5 CC) gets the #1 spot in a 13-5 tie with Ursinus and F&M or a 12-6 tie with all three teams. Franklin & Marshall's lone hope for the top spot is a sweep of McDaniel, two wins from Gettysburg and a Haverford/Hopkins split. McDaniel can still slip into the tournament with a win vs. Hopkins, a sweep of F&M and a Haverford sweep of JHU ... that is, if the Fords finish ahead of the Bears in the standings.

Softball
The Ursinus-Muhlenberg doubleheader will determine the top seed for next weekend's tourney. The Bears (12-2 CC) need one win to secure homefield advantage, while the Mules (11-3 CC) must sweep UC for the #1 slot. Haverford (10-4 CC) and Gettysburg (9-4-1 CC) have locked up the other spots.

Men's Lacrosse
Did you know that the possibility of a six-way tie exists for fourth place? We did ... and here's how it shakes out. Three teams are 3-4 in the CC - Swarthmore, McDaniel and Muhlenberg. The Garnet is in the playoffs with a win vs. Haverford and a Muhlenberg loss to Ursinus. The Green Terror is in with a win tonight vs. Dickinson and a Swarthmore loss. The Mules get the #4 position with a win over the Bears and a McDaniel loss. If those three teams all win, Swarthmore wins a goal-differential tie-breaker. If they all lose ... and Franklin & Marshall defeats Gettysburg ... there is a six-way tie at 3-5. In that scenario, McDaniel is the #4 seed. If the Bullets defeat the Diplomats and we are left with a five-way deadlock, Ursinus is the #4 seed.

Men's Tennis
Johns Hopkins (8-0 CC) can clinch the #1 seed with a win against Haverford (7-1 CC) on Saturday. A Ford victory and a Swarthmore (7-1 CC) loss to Franklin & Marshall (5-3 CC) gives Haverford the top spot. A Garnet victory would create a three-way tie at 8-1. If Haverford scores at least seven points vs. Hopkins, the Fords are #1. Five or six points gives the Jays the #1 seed. Washington (5-3 CC) secures the #4 seed with a win vs. Dickinson. A Shoremen loss and an F&M win gives the Diplomats the final berth. Losses by WC and F&M creates a three-way tie for fourth place. In that scenario, if Dickinson scores seven or more points, the Red Devils get the final seed.

Women's Tennis
The four playoff teams are set - Johns Hopkins (8-0 CC), Haverford (7-2 CC), Washington (7-2 CC) and Muhlenberg (6-2 CC) - and the tournament will be played in Baltimore next weekend. The Shorewomen are the #2 seed with a win against Dickinson, while a Red Devil victory opens the door for the Mules to take the second spot with wins against Bryn Mawr and Gettysburg. Losses by Washington and Muhlenberg leave the door open for the Fords to take the #2 position with a win against Hopkins.

The Opening Draw

The 2009 Centennial Conference spring championship season gets underway today with the opening draw in Carlisle, Pa., as Dickinson plays host to McDaniel in the first round of the women's lacrosse tournament. The two teams met just seven days ago in Westminster with the Red Devils coming out on top, 8-7, behind three goals from Kelsey Muir. Dickinson and McDaniel have met once before in the Centennial playoffs in the 2005 first round, won by the Green Terror, 10-7, in Carlisle. The Red Devils are 0-4 in CC tournament play, while McDaniel is 3-4 and a perfect 3-0 in first round games.

Tuesday's Top Games

Gettysburg at Franklin & Marshall (Women's Lacrosse)
The Bullets (8-0 CC, 13-1) and the Diplomats (8-0, 14-1) meet for the regular-season crown, along with the top seed and homefield advantage for this weekend's Conference tournament. On top of all that ... this is a rivalry game in a series that began in 1975. What makes a great rivalry? Proximity (60 miles from campus-to-campus). Tradition (Gettysburg and F&M have combined to win the last six Centennial championships). Respect (the teams have met in the CC final in each of the last six years and have been ranked in the final national top 10 in each of the last four seasons). F&M holds a 23-21-1 series advantage, including five straight wins. Gettysburg has not defeated the Diplomats in Lancaster since 2005.

Who to watch for today? Gettysburg features a potent 1-2 combo in Nina Emala (36-31-67) and Hollis Stahl (48-6-54), while F&M counters with Shannon Summers (32-51-83) and Jen Pritchard (46-9-55). But the game may be decided between the pipes with the Bullets' Kristen Krammer (7.33 GAA) and the Dips' Lidia Sanza (6.39 GAA).

Swarthmore at Haverford (Men's Tennis)
Speaking of rivalries ... this one reached new heights last season as the Fords defeated the Garnet for the first time ever. Game On! Haverford (7-0, 12-2) is tied for first place in the Conference with Johns Hopkins, while Swarthmore (6-1, 8-6) is a game behind both. The Fords' Tom Kinrade has won eight straight matches and has a 10-1 mark at No. 2 singles. He joins Alex Buxbaum at the top of the doubles ladder and the dup has a 9-3 mark. Swarthmore's Zak Kelm continues to impress at #3 singles with a nine consecutive wins and a 13-5 overall record. Kelm and Kevin Shaughnessy will take on the Haverford #1 doubles team.

Spring, The Way It Should Be

Now this is what I'm talking about ... beautiful clear, sunny skies ... highs in the 70s ... and lots of important games around the Conference. It's promises to be a great weekend weather-wise, and a great weekend for the victors.

Franklin & Marshall at Haverford (Friday, Baseball)
The Fords (10-3 CC, 16-10-1) are fresh off a 10-2 win at F&M yesterday and look to move two games in front of the Diplomats (8-3, 15-10-1) with four remaining in their quest for a regular-season Centennial title. Can F&M pitching silence the big bats of Haverford's Dean Laganosky (.352), Charlie Carluccio (.351, 6 HR 38 RBI) and Jeff Butera (.361)?

McDaniel at Ursinus (Saturday, Baseball)
Two teams chasing Haverford and F&M for the top spot in the Conference meet in a key twinbill in Collegeville. The Bears (8-3, 17-8-1) may throw one of the CC's top pitchers in Zeb Engle (6-0, 1.75 ERA, 57 K, 56.2 IP), while the Terror (6-4, 13-8) counters with Tyler Persun (4-2, 4.96, 43 K in 45.1 IP).

Haverford at McDaniel (Men's Lacrosse)
The Fords (6-0, 10-2) look to make history on Saturday in Westminster against the Green Terror (3-3, 9-4). A victory gives Haverford at least a share of the regular-season Centennial title for the first time and secures homefield advantage for the Conference tournament on May 1-3. McDaniel is one of three teams tied for third place with three losses and could catapult itself right into the playoff field win a win.

Gettysburg at Swarthmore (Men's Lacrosse)
The Bullets (5-1, 9-3) have righted the ship after a 1-3 start and face the Garnet (3-3, 6-5) in a match that has playoff implications for both sides. Gettysburg needs a win to keep their hopes of hosting the Centennial tournament alive. Swarthmore, along with Washington and McDaniel, has three CC losses and is tied for third place in a Conference that puts four teams in its tournament. The Garnet looks to end Gettysburg's 15-game series win streak and beat the Bullets for the first time since 1985.

Women's Lacrosse - Four Games
Where do we begin? Four of the day's five games have a bearing on the five-team tournament field with only Franklin & Marshall (7-0, 12-1) and Gettysburg (7-0, 12-1) secured of a spot entering the day. Muhlenberg (5-3, 9-3) can lock down the No. 3 seed with a win at home against Washington. Dickinson (5-3, 9-6) gets back to the tournament with a win against visiting Swarthmore and can get a first-round bye with a victory and a Mule stumble. Of the three teams tied for fifth place - Haverford (4-4, 10-5), McDaniel (4-4, 8-7) and Ursinus (4-4, 5-10) - the Green Terror may have the advantage on the season's final day at home against Bryn Mawr. The Fords travel to #3 F&M while the Bears visit fifth-ranked Gettysburg. The Terror holds the tie-breaker edge on the other two with head-to-head wins, while Haverford has the advantage on Ursinus.

Gettysburg at Ursinus (Softball)
Two teams fighting for a Conference playoff berth meet in Collegeville. The defending champion Bears (7-2, 22-6) split a doubleheader with Haverford on Thursday to fall a half-game off the front-running pace of Muhlenberg. The Bullets (4-3-1, 19-8-1) currently sit in fourth position in the standings. Ursinus will throw standout pitcher Lauren Davis (20-6, 0.74 ERA) who has fanned 233 batters in 170 innings. Gettysburg will counter with the 1-2 combo of Kristy Rubino (9-5, 1.84) and Beth McCullough (9-3, 2.02) who have combined for 193 K's in 181.2 innings.

Dickinson at Swarthmore (Men's Tennis)
The Garnet (5-1, 7-6) welcome the Red Devils (3-2, 10-5) to Crum Creek looking to keep pace with first-place Johns Hopkins in the standings. Swarthmore #3 singles Zak Kelm is 9-1 in his last 10 matches and 12-5 overall. Dickinson #1 Ross Anstaett is 12-4 overall.

The Bright Yellow Orb in the Sky

The Conference Office took it upon itself to do a "Google search" this morning of "bright, yellow orb in the sky." We are happy to report that the search returned the phrase "sun." None should be happier than the diamond sport coaches to hear that news. Big games dot the Centennial landscape this afternoon to set the stage for a huge weekend.

Haverford at Franklin & Marshall (Baseball)
The top two teams in the standings - the Fords (9-3 CC, 15-10-1) and the Diplomats (8-2, 15-9-1) - meet at Caplan Field in game one of a two-day, two-game series that could determine the top seed for the Conference tournament. F&M leads the all-time series, 43-20-1, including victories in the last 11 games. Although we don't have the probable starters, look for the Diplomats to throw either Matt Metsch (3-0, 3.00) or Nick Markel (3-1, 3.27), while the Fords could counter with Stefan Pappius-Lefebvre (5-2, 3.59).

McDaniel at Gettysburg (Baseball)
The Green Terror 5-4, 12-8 and the Bullets (6-4, 13-14) meet for the 99th time in a series that began in 1899. Gettysburg holds a 69-26-3 advantage with wins in eight of the last nine games. McDaniel has not won at the Battlefield since 2000 (10-4) - a stretch of eight contests. Matt Karis (4-1, 3.22) or Kyle Conklin (2-1, 2.43, 1 save) could get the call for the Bullets this afternoon. Harold Baines leads the Terror in hitting at .385.

Ursinus at Haverford (Softball)
The first-place Bears (6-0, 21-5) travel to the Main Line to take on the second-place Fords (8-2, 15-9) in a key Centennial twinbill. Ursinus will throw 2008 CC Pitcher of the Year Lauren Davis, who leads the Conference in wins (19), ERA (0.90) and strikeouts (213). Haverford counters with Becky Garibotto (5-2, 1.76) and Lisa Karmel (4-4, 1.67), while Erin Delaney (.408) is hitting over .400.

A Chance to Lock In

It's a chance to improve playoff positions today, as we're down to the final four days of the women's lacrosse regular season with five teams competing for the final three spots. While over on the men's side, seven of the nine teams have 3-4 CC losses, making this extremely competitive Conference playoff situation impossible to sort out.

Dickinson at McDaniel (Women's Lacrosse)
The Red Devils and the Green Terror put matching 8-6 overall and 4-3 Conference records on the line in a game that could decide the host in next Wednesday's first-round playoff game. McDaniel leads the all-time series, 25-8-1, but Dickinson has won two of the last three, including a 21-12 decision last year. How balanced are these two teams? Both teams average 12.71 goals per game. Dickinson has won 15.64 draws per game, while McDaniel has taken 14.50. The Devils have caused 8.07 turnovers per game ... the Terror 8.00. McDaniel's Brittany Baer leads the CC with 67 goals, while Dickinson's Amy Jennings is second in assists (38).

Muhlenberg at Ursinus (Women's Lacrosse)
The Mules (5-2 CC, 9-2) travel to Collegeville, looking to duplicate last season's first-ever win against the Bears 3-4, 4-10). A 'Berg victory secures a first-round bye for next week's tournament and probably eliminates UC. Amanda McGovern (37) and Danielle Rosen (31) have combined for 68 goals for the Mules, while Ursinus' Alyssa Thren leads all CC rookies with 33 tallies.

McDaniel at Franklin & Marshall (Men's Lacrosse)
The Green Terror (2-3, 8-4) and the Diplomats (1-4, 3-7) square off under the lights tonight in a game that probably eliminates the loser from playoff consideration. McDaniel is looking for its first win in Lancaster since 2003, while F&M is in search of its third straight win against its Maryland counterparts. The Terror's Gibbs Preston (27) and Mike Hatton (22) have combined for 49 goals on the year. Diplomat rookie Colin McKew is second among CC feeders with 17 assists.

Moving Day

For the non-golfers in the crowd ... it's Masters Week. Some call it the Tiger Woods Invitational, but that's for another time. Traditionally, the third round of any major golf tournament is referred to by the players as "Moving Day." The third round is the one where the contenders "make their move" to the front of the leaderboard to position themselves for the final round. On this second weekend in April, the term "Moving Day" is appropriate around the Centennial as well, as the featured games may well determine who is still playing in May ... and who is sitting at home.

Johns Hopkins at Franklin & Marshall (Baseball)
The Blue Jays (5-3, 13-10) and the Diplomats (7-2, 14-9-1) have combined to win the last eight Centennial championships on the diamond. So needless to say, this is one of the highlight doubleheaders on the spring calendar. Hopkins (.366) and F&M (.348) are 1-2 in the Conference in hitting, but the Dips' pitching has stepped up during CC play with a team ERA of 1.89 as opposed to JHU's 4.92.

Muhlenberg at McDaniel (Men's Lacrosse)
Rarely does a fourth loss in Conference play get you a spot in the four-team Centennial tournament. That sets the stage for a possible elimination game between the Mules (3-3, 3-6) and the Green Terror (1-3, 7-4) Saturday in Westminster. Muhlenberg is on a three-game win streak and has won the last two meetings with the Green Terror. McDaniel's Gibbs Preston (26) and Mike Hatton (21) are 2-3 in the CC in goals per game, while 'Berg keeper Mike Horowitz has a 60.3 save percentage.

Ursinus at Dickinson (Women's Lacrosse)
McDaniel at Haverford (Women's Lacrosse)
It's the next-to-last weekend of Centennial play and the four teams tied for fourth place in the Conference meet in games that will impact the playoff picture. The Bears (3-3, 4-9) travel to Carlisle to meet the Red Devils (3-3, 7-6) in a match between teams headed in opposite directions, as UC has won three of its last four while Dickinson has dropped three in a row. The Devils have won the last three games with Ursinus to cut into a 12-3 series deficit. The Green Terror (3-3, 7-6) and the Fords (3-3, 9-4) pit explosive offenses against defenses that have struggled recently. McDaniel's Brittany Baer (pictured) leads all Centennial players with 61 goals while Lindsey McDonald has dealt out 31 assists. Josie Ferri (35 goals) and Jen Schmidt (28) make a potent 1-2 combo for Haverford. The Terror has won seven straight in the series.

Muhlenberg at Haverford (Softball)
The Mules (8-2, 14-11) and the Fords (8-2, 15-9) are tied for second in the Conference, two games behind front-running Ursinus. The twinbill features four of the CC's top pitchers - Lisa Karmel and Becky Garibotto (4-0, 0.56 ERA in CC) for the Fords, and Ashley Brewer (5-1, 1.39) and Alyssa Bruckner for the Mules. Haverford's Natalie Richman leads the Centennial with 18 RBI in CC games, while Muhlenberg's RiRi Ferrigno shares the HR lead with three.

Five-Star Matchups

Here are today's top games from around the Centennial Conference.


Swarthmore at Washington (Men's Lacrosse)
It's time for the most surprising team in the Centennial to wade into the water against the traditional powers in the Conference. The Garnet (3-2 CC, 4-4) makes the trip to the Eastern Shore to take on the #19 Shoremen (3-2, 8-3) in a game that will tell a lot about both squads. Washington has dominated the series, winning the last 35 contests for a 39-5 all-time advantage. Swarthmore's last win was a 14-7 triumph in 1953. The Shoremen lead the Conference in shots on goal per game (22.36) while the Garnet 'keeper Kevin Friedenberg tops the Centennial in save percentage (66.2).

Franklin & Marshall at Muhlenberg (Women's Lacrosse)
Now it's time to bring out the measuring stick on the women's side as well, as the surprising Mules (4-1, 8-1) play host to the fourth-ranked Diplomats (5-0, 10-1). F&M has won all 25 previous meetings, including the last nine by at least nine goals per game. The Dips (15.73) and the Mules (15.67) are the two highest-scoring teams in the Conference. Muhlenberg tops the CC in shooting percentage (55.7), while F&M is third (48.1).

Washington at Swarthmore (Women's Tennis)
The Shorewomen (4-1, 12-2) come a-callin' to Crum Creek to take on the Garnet (2-1, 3-5) in a match that could go a long way to determining the playoff fates for both teams. The match could be decided at the top of the singles ladder. At #1, Washington's Brittany Marshall (14-2) squares off with Swarthmore's Rachel Wallwork (7-4), while at #2, the Shorewomen's Jordan Finnegan (11-4) tangles with the Garnet's Jennie Park (5-3).

Tuesday's Top Games

It's a sunny, but windy, Tuesday here in Centennial land. That means that the postponements will be few ... and the games will go on. And we have a few good ones for you today. Just stay warm if you go.

Gettysburg at Franklin & Marshall (Baseball)
The Bullets (6-2 CC, 13-12) and the Diplomats (6-2, 13-9-1) renew acquaintances on the diamond for the 155th time since 1892 with Gettysburg looking to extend its 100-53-1 series advantage. F&M swept the season set last year and has won five of the last seven games. Diplomat 2B Matt Will, the reigning Centennial Player of the Week, leads the Conference with a .462 batting average. Bullet OF Cam Riera is seventh in the CC with a .419 average.

Ursinus at Swarthmore (Women's Lacrosse)
As the race for the five-team playoffs heats up, each game becomes more and more important. For the Bears (2-3, 3-8) and the Garnet (1-3, 7-3), that is certainly true today at Clothier Field, as four losses is the usual maximum for playoff qualification in the CC. Ursinus has won two straight since a loss to top-ranked Salisbury and is led by Elizabeth Cannon with 18-19-37. Swarthmore leads the CC in shots per game (35.2) but is ninth in shooting percentage (.381). Amy Vachal tops the Garnet scoring chart with 37-5-42.

Washington at Swarthmore (Men's Tennis)
Two traditional men's tennis powers meet along Crum Creek needing a victory to keep their hopes of hosting the Centennial tournament alive. The Shoremen (2-1, 7-4) are led by #1 singles player Adam Cranford who is 7-4 overall and 3-0 in the CC. The Garnet (3-1, 5-6) look to Zac Kelm who is 10-5 overall and 7-3 at #3 singles.

The First Saturday in April

Can you believe that here we are on the first weekend of April and there is just four weeks remaining in the regular season? And just three weeks remaining for golf and women's lacrosse? That means the games become more important in between dodging raindrops.

Franklin & Marshall at Muhlenberg (Baseball)
The Diplomats (3-2 CC, 10-9-1) and the Mules (3-2, 9-13-1) square off in a Saturday doubleheader in Allentown. F&M is second in the Conference in team batting (.344) but will have to face Muhlenberg ace Phil Cresta who was a 2nd team All-CC pick last season and has fanned 29 in 42 innings this season. The Diplomats have won nine straight to take a 60-47 lead in a series that began in 1925.

Ursinus at Johns Hopkins (Baseball)
The series between the Bears (2-1 CC, 10-6-1) and the Blue Jays (2-1, 9-8) is renewed on Sunday (after last weekend's rainout) with Hopkins holding a 65-21 all-time lead with victories in the last six contests. The doubleheader pits the two winningest coaches in Conference games in Centennial history - Ursinus' Brian Thomas (181-92 entering Friday) and Hopkins' Bob Babb (219-52-1 entering Friday). Something has to give in this one, as the Jays lead the Conference with a .391 team batting average, while the Bears top the loop in team ERA (3.26).

Washington at Gettysburg (Men's Lacrosse)
It's the game that is circled on the calendar of every Centennial men's lacrosse fan at the start of the year. The #15 Shoremen (3-1, 8-2) visit the #9 Bullets (2-1, 6-3) in a matchup between the two teams that have met for every Conference title since 2002. Gettysburg has won four straight contests, including an 11-10 victory at Salisbury that snapped the top-ranked Gulls' 87-game regular-season winning streak. Washington had its five-game win streak snapped by Haverford and looks to break a nine-game losing skein to the Bullets. The Shoremen have not won at Shirk Field since 2003 (9-8).

Franklin & Marshall at Dickinson (Women's Lacrosse)
The Diplomats (4-0, 9-1) and the Red Devils (3-1, 7-3) renew acquaintances for the 33rd time in a series that began in 1976. F&M holds a 31-1 series advantage with the only Dickinson triumph coming in Carlisle in that 1976 opening game (10-5). The Devils only lost by two goals last season in Lancaster (12-10). The game also pits a pair of F&M graduates on the sidelines - Diplomat coach Lauren Paul '03 and Red Devil mentor Kasey Dougherty '99.