Five-Star Matchups

Lancaster is the place to be on Wednesday as five of our nine featured games take place on the Franklin & Marshall campus. The women's lacrosse game between the Diplomats and Gettysburg will determine the top seed for next week's championship tournament, while the other eight games have playoff implications.

Gettysburg at Franklin & Marshall (Women's Lacrosse)
The Conference's best rivalry takes center stage on Wednesday night as the sixth-ranked Bullets (7-0 CC, 12-2) and seventh-ranked Diplomats (7-0, 13-2) meet with first place on the line. This is the 49th meeting between the two schools with F&M holding a 25-22-1 advantage, including wins in eight of the last nine contests. Gettysburg's last win in Lancaster was in the 2005 Centennial title game (11-9). This will be the 13th consecutive game in the series in which both the Bullets and Diplomats are ranked in the national top 10. The top two goalkeepers in the CC will play a major role tonight as Gettysburg's Maddie Coleman has a 58.6 save percentage, while F&M's Kelsey Hoffman has a 6.72 goals-against average.

Ursinus at Haverford (Women's Lacrosse)
While first place is on the line in Lancaster, a first-round tournament bye could be up for grabs when the Bears (4-3, 6-8) and the Fords (5-2, 9-5) square off on the Main Line. Ursinus has a 16-1 advantage in the series since 1994, but Haverford's only win came in the last meeting at Swan Field in 2009 (18-16). The Fords' Josie Ferri is the third-leading scorer in the Conference with 45-20-65, while the Bears' Alyssa Thren is one of five 40-goal scorers in the CC (40-5-45).

Gettysburg at Franklin & Marshall (Men's Lacrosse)
Two teams fighting for their playoff lives meet in Lancaster as the 20th ranked Bullets (4-2, 8-5) visit the Diplomats (3-3, 8-4). A victory would clinch a playoff berth for Gettysburg, while a win would bolster F&M's hopes for its first CC playoff bid since 2005. It is the 54th time that the two schools have met with Gettysburg holding a 33-20 advantage, including victories in seven of the last eight games. The Diplomats' last win was an 11-9 home win in 2008. Gettysburg leads the Centennial in scoring defense (6.73), led by GK J.T. McCook. F&M is second in scoring offense (9.92), led by Billy Kempner (23-15-38).

Haverford at Ursinus (Men's Lacrosse)
Another tussle for playoff positioning takes place in Collegeville as the 12th ranked Fords (4-2, 9-3) take on the Bears (3-3, 8-4). Haverford has won six straight in the series and holds an 8-1 all-time lead. Ursinus' only win was a 10-9 triumph on the Main Line in 2004. The teams have two of the stingiest defenses in the Conference, as the Fords and Bears allow just 6.91 and 6.92 goals-against per game, respectively. Ursinus M Jeff Ocampo leads the Centennial with 32 goals, while Haverford GK Joe Banno has turned away a CC-best 66.8 percent of shots on net.

Gettysburg at Franklin & Marshall (Softball)
It could almost be described as a playoff doubleheader as the Bullets (6-6, 16-14) travel to Amish Country to take on the Diplomats (6-5, 20-10-1). Neither team can really afford a loss and a sweep could be devastating to tournament hopes. The teams are 1-2 in the CC in batting average with F&M hitting .350 and Gettysburg .326. The Diplomats' Malorie Sassaman leads the Conference at .477, while the Bullets' Maggie Maguire has a Centennial-best seven round-trippers.

Haverford at Franklin & Marshall (Baseball)
The first-place Fords (11-3, 26-5) travel to take on the third-place Diplomats (10-4, 18-13) in the first of a two-game weekday set. It is the 70th time that the teams have met on the diamond with F&M holding a 46-22-1 advantage in the series. Haverford has taken the last two tilts at Kaplan Field, winning 12-10 in 2009 and 5-4 a year ago. The Fords lead the Centennial with a 3.29 team ERA, while SS Charlie Carluccio tops the circuit with a .411 batting average. Diplomat counterpart Matt Will leads his club with a .386 average. Probables: Dan Hochberg (3-0, 3.71) for the Fords and Mike Duranti (4-2, 3.35) for the Diplomats.

Washington College at Johns Hopkins (Baseball)
The Blue Jays (11-3, 18-11), tied for first place with Haverford, will have a major say on the playoff picture over the next week and begin today against the Shoremen (7-7, 16-14). Not only will Hopkins battle the Fords and F&M for the top seed in next weekend's tournament, JHU also closes the season with a single game against Washington and a twinbill vs. Muhlenberg - two teams battling Swarthmore for the final playoff spot. The Jays have won 12 straight against the Shoremen and hold a 75-32 all-time edge in the series that started in 1887. Washington's last win was a 15-5 triumph in 2005 in Chestertown, while the Chestertown nine has not returned home victorious from Baltimore since 1997 (9-5). Hopkins C Joe Borrelli is the reigning CC Player of the Week. Probables: Joe Kearney-Argow (3-3, 5.74) for the Shoremen and Kevin Gillen (3-0, 4.67) for the Jays.

Washington College at Swarthmore (Men's Tennis)
It's a critical match for playoff seeding when the Shoremen (5-2, 9-5) visit the banks of Crum Creek to take on the Garnet (6-1, 10-6). A Swarthmore victory could lock up a first-round tournament bye, while a Washington win would secure a playoff berth. The Shoremen's Adam Cranford is fourth in the CC with 13 singles wins (13-4) on the year, while the Garnet's No. 3 doubles team of Anthony Collard and Seth Udelson is fourth among all CC tandems with a 77.8 winning percentage (7-2).

Gettysburg at Franklin & Marshall (Men's Tennis)
Simply put, this is a playoff match for the Bullets (3-4, 10-4) who must win to keep their flickering tournament hopes alive. A Gettysburg loss and the five CC playoff teams are set and the Diplomats (5-2, 9-5) remain in the hunt for a first-round bye. The match at No. 1 singles between the Bullets' Chris Curran (9-8) and the Dips' Ross Silverberg (13-4) could go a long way to determining the outcome of the match.

Five-Star Matchups

Tennis takes center stage this weekend in the Conference, as the top seed for the Centennial championship tournament is on the line.

Johns Hopkins at Haverford (Men's Tennis)
The 12th ranked Blue Jays (5-0 CC, 10-3) bring their 43-match Centennial win streak to the Main Line to take on the Fords (5-0, 7-5). Hopkins' Andrew Wang (10-5), ranked 39th nationally, could meet Haverford's Kevin Caulfield (8-3) at No. 1 singles in the premier match.

Johns Hopkins at Washington College (Women's Tennis)
The Blue Jays (6-0, 9-1) and the Shorewomen (6-0, 11-0) battle for first place in the Centennial in Chestertown. The tone of the match could be set at No. 1 doubles, as Hopkins' Hailey Hogan and Nandita Krishnan (7-1) meet Washington's Jordan Finnegan and Brittany Marshall (13-1). Hogan and Krishnan defeated the #2 doubles team in the region from Carnegie Mellon in their last match. Finnegan and Marshall are 32-2 in their last 34 matches.

Johns Hopkins at Swarthmore (Baseball)
The first-place Blue Jays (6-1, 13-8) look to protect their one-game lead at the top of the CC standings when they visit the Garnet (4-3, 13-8). The two teams have met 107 times with Hopkins winning 21 straight to take a 69-38 overall lead in the series. Swarthmore's last win was a 6-3 triumph in the opener of a 2000 home doubleheader. JHU is ranked 24th in the latest d3baseball.com/NCBWA poll. Two of the Conference's top pitchers in ERA will meet on the mound - Hopkins' Alex Eliopoulos (4-1, 1.65) and Swat's Ignacio Rodriguez (3-1, 2.32).

Gettysburg at Ursinus (Softball)
The Bullets (3-1, 13-9) and the Bears (3-2, 10-10) meet in a twinbill that could have significance on the playoff chase. Gettysburg is second in the CC in batting with a .339 average, led by Sam Bader who is hitting at a .488 clip. Ursinus is second in the Centennial in team ERA (2.27), paced by Jennilyn Weber's 0.79.

Gettysburg at Ursinus (Women's Lacrosse)
The Bears' "Hell Week" continues as sixth-ranked Gettysburg (5-0, 8-2) comes to town. Ursinus (4-1, 6-5) gave seventh-ranked Franklin & Marshall all it wanted on Wednesday before falling, 11-9, but now looks to break a 13-game losing streak to the Bullets. The Bears' last home win was an 11-7 triumph in 2001. Gettysburg's Lindsey Robinson is fourth in the CC in scoring (26-18-44) while UC's Alyssa Thren is second in goals with 35.

Five-Star Matchups

No kidding around as we enter the first weekend of April with games that will impact the playoff chase at the end of the month.

Haverford at Dickinson (Men's Lacrosse)
One of the most anticipated games of the season takes place in Carlisle between the ninth ranked Fords (2-1 CC, 7-2) and the 11th ranked Red Devils (2-0, 8-1). It is the 40th time that the two schools have met with Haverford holding a 24-15 series advantage, including wins in the last two meetings. Expect a close game, as five of the last seven contests have been decided by two or fewer goals, including a 12-11 overtime win by the Fords in the 2010 CC semifinals. Devil first-year Brian Cannon leads the Centennial in scoring (22-21-43), while Haverford netminder Joe Banno tops the Conference in save percentage (.650).

Haverford at Dickinson (Men's Tennis)
The Fords (3-0, 3-5) bring their unbeaten Conference record to Carlisle to take on the Red Devils (2-1, 6-3), whose lone loss came at the hands of nationally-ranked Johns Hopkins. The match could be determined at No. 1 singles, as Haverford's Kevin Caulfield (7-2), ranked 12th regionally, takes on Dickinson's Ross Anstaett (11-3)

Johns Hopkins at Franklin & Marshall (Baseball)
The Blue Jays (3-0, 10-6), the lone unbeaten in the Conference entering Friday's play, travel to Lancaster to take on the second-place Diplomats (2-1, 10-10). Hopkins is second in the Centennial with a 3.78 team ERA and are slated to throw Sam Eagleson and Alex Eliopoulos (4-1, 1.35). F&M's Eric Bornstein is 10th in the CC with a .393 batting average. This is the 82nd and 83rd times that the schools have met since 1889 with JHU holding a 51-29-1 series lead, including wins in the last eight games.

New Jersey at Gettysburg
Gettysburg at Swarthmore (Women's Lacrosse)
The Bullets (3-0, 6-1) face two major challenges on back-to-back days this weekend, taking on the top-ranked Lions on Friday and the resurgent Garnet (2-1, 6-2) on Saturday. Gettysburg has played the #1 team in the country six times since 2004 but has yet to come away with a victory. The Bullets have won 16 straight games against Swarthmore since a 12-7 defeat in 1994 at the Battlefield and hold a 21-3 all-time series advantage. The Garnet's Annalise Penikis leads all Centennial players with 34 goals, 18 assists, 52 points and 29 draw controls, while Gettysburg's Lindsey Robinson has 16-15-31 to place sixth in the CC in scoring. 'Burg's Becky Lutz, who leads the Conference in caused turnovers (25), should draw the defensive assignment on Penikis.

Muhlenberg at Washington College (Softball)
Two of the top teams in the Conference square off in Chestertown in a twinbill. The Mules (2-0, 11-8) are the lone remaining CC unbeaten, while the Shorewomen (3-1, 11-9) are a game off the pace in the Centennial standings. Ashley Brewer is a dual threat for 'Berg with a .433 average at the dish and a 5-3 record with a 2.50 ERA on the mound. Lauren Dockrill leads Washington with a .468 average - good for fourth in the Conference.

Muhlenberg at Washington College (Women's Tennis)
The unbeaten Shorewomen (4-0, 9-0) face a major challenge to their unblemished record when the Mules (3-1, 5-2) come calling on Saturday. Washington's lineup has a powerful 1-2-3 at the top of the ladder in Amanda Bercovici (12-1), Jordan Finnegan (10-1) and Brittany Marshall (10-1), while Muhlenberg's counters with Caitie Druker (5-2) and Sara Sutker (6-1) at the top two spots.

Five-Star Matchups

The first weekend of spring certainly is colder than most of us would like ... but it is here and with it comes the first weekend of Conference play in baseball and softball. Can Johns Hopkins and Dickinson repeat? They both face big challenges on Saturday, while key lacrosse and tennis matches are also on the docket. Bundle up and we hope to see you at a Centennial game this weekend.

BASEBALL
Johns Hopkins at Haverford (2)
Dickinson at Swarthmore (2)
The defending CC champs and the three teams with the best non-conference records in the Centennial meet in doubleheaders to open the 2011 season. Hopkins (7-5) travels to the Main Line to take on Haverford (13-2) in a rematch of last spring's CC title game. OF Jesse Sikorski leads the Jays with a .372 average and 12 RBI, while SS Charlie Carluccio has a .396 average and 16 ribbies for the Fords. Pitching will be the order of the day as JHU throws (probable) Alex Eliopoulos (3-1, 1.02) and Sam Eagleson (1-0, 2.41), while Haverford counters with Colin Sarafin (3-1, 3.38) and Jonny Williams (3-0, 1.29).

Down the road a piece in Delaware County, the Red Devils (13-4) and the Garnet (9-5) meet in a twinbill. OF Mike Schuster is hitting .443 and has seven steals for Dickinson, while C Mike Waterhouse has a .449 average with 16 RBI and a .653 slugging percentage for Swarthmore. Probable pitchers: D-Sean White (3-1, 1.67) and Evan Fitzpatrick (3-1, 2.03); S-Ignacio Rodriguez (2-1, 2.89) and Neil Mejia (1-0, 3.29) or Kyle Crawford (0-1, 9.00).

SOFTBALL
Ursinus at Dickinson
The Red Devils (5-9) open defense of their 2010 Centennial title by taking on the new-look Bears (6-5). 1B Madison Gerish is hitting at a .350 clip for Dickinson with 11 RBI, while OF Amy Gentile has a .440 average for UC. Allison Jordan (2-3, 2.57) has fanned 52 in 32 2/3 innings of mound work, while rookie Chelsea Homa (2-3, 0.24) has 43 K's in 29 1/3 innings for the Devils. Jennilyn Weber (4-2, 1.02) may see double-duty on the mound for Ursinus.

WOMEN'S LACROSSE
Ursinus at Dickinson
The Bears (1-0, 3-4) travel to Carlisle to take on the Red Devils (1-0, 4-5) in a late March contest to could have playoff implications in late April. Ursinus leads the series, 13-4, and snapped a four-game skid to Dickinson with a 9-3 triumph last season in Collegeville. Allison Furman (9-11-20) and Alyssa Thren (20-1-21) are a potent 1-2 offensive combo for the Bears, but will be challenged by Devil 'keeper Jessie Clark who leads the CC with a .507 save percentage.

MEN'S LACROSSE
Ursinus at Dickinson
Are you noticing a trend that Carlisle is the "place to be" for big Conference games on Saturday? The men's lax contest between the first-place Bears (2-0, 6-1) and the 12th ranked Red Devils (0-0, 6-1) should be no exception. Dickinson has a 6-2 all-time lead in the series, but Ursinus has won two of the last three games by two-goal margins in 2008 and 2009. The top two scorers in the Centennial will be on display in the Devils' Brian Cannon (18-16-34) and the Bears' Jeff Ocampo (24-6-30).

MEN'S and WOMEN'S TENNIS
Johns Hopkins at Swarthmore
It's a rematch of the 2010 Centennial team finals as the Blue Jays and the Garnet meet in a net doubleheader at the Mullen Tennis Center. The 11th ranked Hopkins women (1-0, 3-0) defeated the Garnet (2-0, 3-5) a year ago for their fourth straight Conference title. Four of the top 25 ranked women in the Atlantic South region will play on Saturday in JHU's Carolyn Warren (4), Nandita Krishnan (10) and Hailey Hogan (11), along with Swarthmore's Lia Carlson (24).

The Blue Jay men (1-0, 4-3), ranked 13th nationally, downed the Garnet (1-0, 4-5) for their fourth consecutive Centennial championship last spring. JHU has three players ranked in the Atlantic South region - Andrew Wang (8), Andy Hersh (9) and Warren Elgort (11), while the doubles team of Casey Blythe and Jacob Barnaby are fifth.

MEN'S GOLF
McDaniel Invitational at The Bridges GC
All seven of the Conference's teams will participate in the 36-hole McDaniel Invitational this weekend. The Invitational will also serve as the Conference's qualifying tournament for the NCAA championship, should the Centennial tournament be unable to be played on April 30-May 1. McDaniel posted the lowest team stroke average in the fall (311.08), led by senior Paul Kovalcheck who carded the low individual average (74.50). Also watch Gettysburg's Peter Ruymann (75.33) and F&M's Cameron Warner (75.50).

Championship Weekend

It's the culmination of the spring season in the Centennial Conference with eight championships and six automatic berths to NCAA tournaments on the line this weekend. We'll be in Baltimore (baseball, m/w tennis), Collegeville (softball), Gettysburg (m/w lacrosse) and Swarthmore (m/w track and field) over the next three days and we hope to see you out at one of the venues. Here's what to watch for ...

Baseball
The #1 ranked team in Division III - Johns Hopkins - opens defense of its Centennial title against fourth-seeded Washington College this afternoon. The Shoremen are making their first CC playoff appearance and first conference tournament appearance, period, since 1984. The other game pits third-seeded Swarthmore at second-seeded Haverford in a contest that will raise their long-time rivalry to a new level. The losers meet Saturday morning at 9 a.m. in Baltimore for an elimination game, while the winners square off at 12:30. Game 5 is slated for a first pitch around 4 p.m. with action continuing Sunday at noon. You can listen to game 3-7 online with Conference-produced coverage from Hopkins. Championship Website

Men's Lacrosse
The #2 ranked team in Division III - Gettysburg - looks for its 14th Centennial title in 17 seasons this weekend. The Bullets play host to fourth-seeded McDaniel in today's first semifinal at 1:30, while #5 ranked Dickinson takes on third-seeded Haverford in the nightcap. The winners meet in Sunday's noon final. You can watch all three games in the tournament LIVE on your computer. Follow the championship website links.

Women's Lacrosse
The #5 ranked team in Division III - Gettysburg - looks for its unprecedented seventh Centennial title and first since 2006 this weekend. The Bullets take on fourth-seeded Haverford in Saturday's first semifinal at 1 p.m., while seventh-ranked Franklin & Marshall goes for its fourth straight CC championship this weekend and takes on Ursinus in the other semifinal. The winners meet in Sunday's final at 2 p.m. You can watch all three games in the tournament LIVE on your computer. Follow the championship website links.

Softball
Top-seeded Ursinus looks for an unprecedented sixth Centennial title when the Bears welcome Gettysburg, Swarthmore and Dickinson to Collegeville for the double-elimination tournament. The Bullets are looking for their fourth title, while the Garnet and Red Devils are trying to win their first Centennial championship. Action begins Saturday at 10 a.m. with the first of four games. Sunday's play begins at 10 a.m. as well. Championship Website

Men's Tennis
The 10th ranked team in Division III - Johns Hopkins - looks for its fourth consecutive Centennial title this weekend. The Blue Jays host fourth-seeded Washington College on Saturday at 3 p.m. Swarthmore plays host to Franklin & Marshall at 3 p.m. in the other semifinal. The winners will square off in Baltimore on Sunday at 3 p.m. for the championship. Championship Website

Women's Tennis
The 15th ranked team in Division III - Johns Hopkins - goes for its fourth Conference championship in a row this weekend. The Blue Jays take on fourth-seeded Haverford in the semifinals on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Baltimore, whle second-seeded Swarthmore entertains Dickinson at the same hour. The semifinal winners meet at Hopkins on Sunday at 11 a.m. for the Centennial championship. Championship Website

Playoff Scenarios

Playoffs! Allen Iverson will always be known for his rant on practice ... Jim Mora will always be known for his rant on the playoffs!

Here are the scenarios for Saturday's Centennial Conference action as it relates to playoff consideration:

BASEBALL
Hopkins is #1 seed; Haverford and Swarthmore are in the tourney.
Muhlenberg is IN with a sweep of Washington; Shoremen are IN with one win vs. Mules.

MEN'S LACROSSE
Gettysburg is #1 seed, Dickinson is #2 seed
Haverford is IN with win vs. Swarthmore and is #3 seed.
McDaniel is IN with win vs. Dickinson.
Loser of Muhlenberg-Ursinus is OUT.

a 4-4 tie between Haverford and Muhlenberg --> Muhlenberg
a 4-4 tie between Haverford and Ursinus --> Haverford
a 4-4 tie between McDaniel, Muhlenberg and/or Ursinus --> McDaniel
a 4-4 tie among Haverford, McDaniel and Ursinus --> Haverford, McDaniel
a 4-4 tie among Haverford, McDaniel and Muhlenberg
* teams are 1-1 vs. each other
* if F&M wins vs. Gettysburg and gains 6th place --> Haverford, McDaniel
* if F&M loses and three teams are tied at 2-6 --> Haverford, McDaniel on goal differential in games between Haverford, McDaniel and Muhlenberg

WOMEN'S LACROSSE
Gettysburg is #1 seed and plays winner of Haverford-Dickinson in semis
Franklin & Marshall is #2 seed and plays #3 seed Ursinus in semis
Haverford is #4 seed and plays host to #5 Dickinson in 1st round

SOFTBALL
Ursinus is #1 seed
Gettysburg, Swarthmore and Dickinson are IN
Dickinson wins all tie-breakers in an 8-8 tie.

MEN'S TENNIS
Johns Hopkins is #1 seed, Swarthmore is IN.
Franklin & Marshall is IN with a win vs. either Muhlenberg or Swarthmore
F&M wins 6-3/5-4 ties with Haverford and Washington
Washington wins 6-3/5-4 ties with Haverford
a 5-4 tie among Dickinson, F&M, Haverford and Washington --> Dickinson, F&M
a 5-4 tie among Dickinson, Haverford and Washington --> depends on final score of Dickinson-Washington match.
Individual matches won in dual-meets between tied teams:
--> Washington 6, Haverford 3
--> Haverford 5, Dickinson 4
--> TOTAL: Haverford 8, Washington 6, Dickinson 4.
--> A Dickinson 5-4 win means Washington is IN. A Dickinson win of 6-3 or greater gives spot to Devils.

WOMEN'S TENNIS
Johns Hopkins is #1 seed, Swarthmore is #2 seed
Dickinson is IN with a win vs. Washington. Haverford is IN and Washington OUT.
Washington is IN with wins vs. Dickinson and McDaniel.
a 7-3 tie between Dickinson and Haverford --> Dickinson
a 7-3 tie between Haverford and Washington --> Haverford
a 7-3 tie among Dickinson, Haverford and Washington --> Washington, Dickinson

Five-Star Matchups

It's the penultimate weekend for spring sports in the Conference and the next-to-last Saturday of Centennial play features numerous key matchups.

Franklin & Marshall at Swarthmore (Baseball)
With five teams competing for three remaining playoff spots, the chase is on over the next nine days. The Diplomats (7-6, 12-14-1) have reached the Centennial tournament every year since 2004, while the Garnet (8-5, 16-11) is looking to reach the Conference final four for the first time. F&M has won 11 of the last 12 games with Swarthmore, but the Garnet's lone win was a 3-1 triumph during the Diplomats' last twinbill visit to Clothier Field in 2008.

Ursinus at Dickinson (Men's Lacrosse)
The fifth-ranked Red Devils (5-1, 12-1) look to wrap up a playoff berth against the Bears (3-3, 8-3). Dickinson has won its five Centennial games by a total of nine goals, while Ursinus' three CC losses have been by a combined four goals. In fact, 13 of the 28 Conference games have been decided by a single goal this season. The Devils' Chris Dodson leads the Centennial with 25 assists, while the Bears' Eric Farris is fourth in goals per game (2.27).

McDaniel at Haverford (Men's Lacrosse)
The Green Terror (4-2, 7-5) also looks to secure a playoff berth for the second straight season ... and looks for a little revenge when it visits the Main Line to take on the Fords (3-3, 7-5). Haverford won a pair of one-goal overtime decisions last year, including a 9-8 triumph in the CC semifinals at Swan Field. McDaniel A D.J. Rickels leads the Centennial with 37 goals, while Haverford's Max Hjelm is second with 29.

Dickinson at Ursinus (Women's Lacrosse)
The final three playoff spots are up for grabs on the women's lax side and this one will go a long way in determining who's in, and who's out. The Red Devils (3-3, 6-4) trail the Bears (4-2, 9-4) and Haverford by a game in the CC standings, while Ursinus can put some room between itself and the rest of the contenders with a win. UC's Lindsay Urban and Emily Diehl have combined for 54 goals on the season, but will be tested by Dickinson GK Jessie Clark and her 52.0 save percentage.

Haverford at McDaniel (Women's Lacrosse)
Three teams in the Conference have 10 or more wins. Two are obvious and ranked in the national top 10. The other ... Haverford (4-2, 11-2). The Fords look to move one step closer to their first-ever Centennial playoff berth when they visit the Green Terror (2-4, 8-5). Two of the CC's top goal scorers - McDaniel's Brittany Baer (44) and Haverford's Josie Ferri (38) - will lead their offenses.

Ursinus at Gettysburg (Softball)
The top two teams in the Conference square off in a twinbill that could decide the top seed for the Centennial tournament. The Bears (10-0, 20-2) can lock up homefield for the final four with a sweep and a loss by either Dickinson or Haverford. The Bullets (8-4, 16-11-1) can keep their #1 seed hopes alive by taking two. The game within the game will feature the Conference's top pitcher - Ursinus' Lauren Davis-Macedonia (15-1, 164k 109.2ip) and Gettysburg's Megan Lott (.433-3hr-17rbi).

Swarthmore at Dickinson (Women's Tennis)
The Garnet (6-1, 8-4) and the Red Devils (5-1, 9-4) meet in an important match in the quest for tournament seeding. All eyes will be on Swarthmore's Rachel Wallwork at #1 singles as she goes for her 24th consecutive Centennial singles win.

Five-Star Matchups

Johns Hopkins at Washington (Baseball)
Something has to give today in Chestertown as the Conference's top offense faces the Centennial's second-best pitching staff. Johns Hopkins (12-0 CC, 25-3) is hitting .397 as a team and is averaging over 12 runs per game. Washington (7-5, 12-10) is second in team ERA (5.18), led by Shane Mattingly who is 4-1 with a 2.09 ERA.

Haverford at Ursinus (Softball)
Two of the final four teams in the 2009 Centennial tournament square off in Collegeville. The Bears (10-0, 20-2) have a four-game lead over the Fords (6-4, 13-11) and Gettysburg. Ursinus leads the CC in batting average (.338), team ERA (0.55) and fielding (.972). Haverford is third among Centennial teams with a 2.65 ERA.

Johns Hopkins at Swarthmore (Women's Tennis)
The last two CC unbeatens meet today along Crum Creek in a match that should determine the top seed for the upcoming Centennial team championship. The Blue Jays (5-0, 8-7) look to Carolyn Warren and Anita Bhamidipati at #1-3. The Garnet (6-0, 8-3) are led by #1 Rachel Wallwork who has won 22 consecutive CC matches.

Five-Star Matchups

Franklin & Marshall at Johns Hopkins (Baseball)
The Diplomats (6-3 CC, 11-10-1) and the Blue Jays (8-0, 21-3) have one of the most spirited diamond rivalries in the Conference. The two teams have combined to win every Centennial championship since 2001 - Hopkins capturing crowns in 2001-04 and 2007-09 and F&M taking the title in 2005-06. Last season, the clubs' anticipated showdown for the crown in the CC tournament was rained out, giving the Jays the trophy. Although the pitching matchups have not been announced, look for the Diplomats to throw Nick Markel (2-0, 4.37) and Mike Duranti (2-2, 4.10), while Hopkins counters with Sam Eagleson (6-0, 1.97) and Greg Harbeck (3-0, 2.48).

Ursinus at Gettysburg (Men's Lacrosse)
The Bears (3-2, 8-2) continue their nine-day stretch through the heart of the Conference when they travel to the Battlefield to take on the #2 ranked Bullets (5-0, 11-1). Ursinus is coming off a disappointing OT loss to Haverford, squandering a three-goal lead in the final minutes. Gettysburg has won all seven previous meetings with UC. Two of the top middies in the Centennial square off in the Bullets' Kyle McGrath (24-12-36) and the Bears' Eric Farris (19-6-25).

Dickinson at Franklin & Marshall (Women's Lacrosse)
The Red Devils (3-1, 6-2) look to break a 32-game losing streak to the Diplomats (4-0, 8-1) in this rematch of the 2009 Conference semifinals. Dickinson's lone win in the series came in game #1 in 1976, taking a 10-5 decision in Carlisle. F&M's Blake Hargest became the fifth player in Centennial history to amass 300 career points last week and has 30-27-57 on the season. Dickinson GK Jessie Clark has a 53.7 save percentage and an 8.86 goals-against mark.

Gettysburg at Haverford (Women's Lacrosse)
The seventh-ranked Bullets (4-0, 10-2) look to remain perfect in the Conference when they travel to the Main Line to take on the Fords (3-1, 10-1). Gettysburg leads the series, 15-2, and has won each of the last five contests by 10 or more goals. Haverford's last win over the Bullets was at home in 1994 (13-7). A pair of talented tandems take the turf at Swan Field Saturday in the Bullets' Nina Emala (35-13-48) and Hollis Stahl (33-10-43), while the Fords counter with Josie Ferri (35-16-51) and Jen Schmidt (26-1-27).

Dickinson at Ursinus (Softball)
It is a showdown between the top two teams in the Conference when the Red Devils (11-12, 4-2) visit Collegeville to take on the Bears (6-0, 16-2) in a twinbill. Keep an eye on the pitching matchup between Dickinson's Allison Jordan (5-2, 1.91) and Ursinus' Lauren Davis-Macedonia (13-1, 0.24). How will a pair of .400 hitters - Alesha Sisco of the Devils (.441) and Allison Pfrommer of the Bears (.423) - fare against the fire-balling pair?

Franklin & Marshall at Johns Hopkins (Men's Tennis)
It's one of the biggest matches that the Diplomats (4-0, 7-3) have played in some time when they visit Baltimore to take on the eighth-ranked Blue Jays (4-0, 10-4). F&M ended a 22-match losing streak to perennial CC power Washington last weekend and now looks to make more noise. Hopkins has won 33 consecutive Centennial matches.

Haverford at Gettysburg (Women's Tennis)
The Fords (3-1, 4-4) and the Bullets (3-2, 9-3) meet in a crucial Conference match that could have playoff implications. Six CC teams have two or fewer losses and only four of those will make the Centennial tournament. The #1 singles match could set the tone between Haverford's Katie Wettick (5-3) and Gettysburg's Katie Taylor (7-4).

Five-Star Matchups

McDaniel Invitational (Men's Golf)
Six of the Conference's seven teams get together at the site of last year's Centennial championship (The Bridges GC) for the two-day tournament. Players to watch include Dickinson's Joey Goldstein, F&M's Brendan Mohler, McDaniel's Keith Mazurek (pictured) and Muhlenberg's Zachary Oyer.

Washington at Haverford (Men's Lacrosse)
This clash between two of the preseason Conference favorites on the Main Line has a different flavor to it. Instead of battling for one of the top spots in the Conference, the Shoremen (1-2 CC, 3-4) and the Fords (0-2, 4-4) will fight to avoid a third CC loss before the end of March. Haverford broke an 0-19 history against Washington with an 8-5 victory in Chestertown last spring.

Washington at Dickinson (Women's Lacrosse)
Two teams with Conference playoff aspirations meet as the Shorewomen (1-1, 4-2) travel to Carlisle to take on the Red Devils (1-0, 4-1). Dickinson holds a slim 13-12 all-time series lead following five straight victories. Washington's last triumph was a 17-9 road win in 2004. Both teams have received strong play in goal - Dickinson's Jessie Clark and Washington's Stephanie Seibert have 54.7 and 54.5 save percentages, respectively.

Gettysburg at Haverford (Softball)
Two teams that qualified for the Centennial championship tournament in 2009 meet on the Main Line. The Bullets (2-0, 9-6-1) opened the CC season last weekend with a sweep of defending champ Muhlenberg, while the Fords (0-0, 6-6) open their CC schedule on Saturday. Gettysburg's Megan Lott is one of the top hitters in the Conference with three HR and 13 RBI to go with a .442 average.

Trophy Time

Last weekend, the Centennial Conference crowned three champions in women's lacrosse and men's and women's golf. This weekend, we'll present championship trophies to seven more teams in baseball, softball, tennis, track and field and men's lacrosse. How can you keep up-to-date with all the latest results? The fastest way is to follow us on Twitter, as we'll be posting updates to our feed throughout the weekend. Don't have a Twitter account? It's easy to join and receive updates via web or cell. You can also get live stats from our championship websites.

Baseball Championship website
The biggest challenge facing the four teams in the tournament could be the weather, as rain will be a persistent factor. Top-seed Ursinus opens play at home today against #4 Haverford, while #2 Johns Hopkins plays host to #3 Franklin & Marshall. The losers meet in Collegeville on Saturday at 9 a.m., while the winners square off at 12:30 p.m. The Bears have one of the trump cards in the deck in Conference Pitcher of the Year Zeb Engle. Johns Hopkins counters with the Centennial Player of the Year in Todd Emr.

Men's Lacrosse Championship website
There's something different about this year's tournament ... oh yes, we're not in Gettysburg or Chestertown. For the first time in the tourney's nine-year history, the four teams will meet at Swan Field in Haverford. The top-seeded Fords take on #4 McDaniel in the opening game today at 1:30, while six-time defending champion Gettysburg and Washington tangle in the nightcap. Something has to give today ... neither Haverford nor the Terror has ever won a CC playoff game, while the Bullets and Shoremen are a perfect 8-0 in Centennial semifinal contests. The winners meet Sunday at 1 p.m. in Haverford for the title.

Men's Tennis Championship website
For the third straight season, Johns Hopkins welcomes the CC's top tennis teams to Baltimore for the Conference championship. The two-time defending champion Blue Jays open play this morning at 11 a.m. against #4 Washington in a matchup of the only two teams to win the Centennial title. #2 Swarthmore entertains #3 Haverford at 3 p.m. Hopkins features CC Player of the Year David Maldow at #1 singles.

Track and Field Championship websites - Men / Women
The 16th annual Conference championship gets underway today in Lancaster with the multi-events and the 10,000 meters. Haverford has won 15 consecutive men's crowns and the last three women's titles. For the men, the most competitive event could be the triple jump between Haverford's Chaz Thomas (47-0 1/2) and Ursinus' Travis Youngs (46-9). For the women, we'll be watching the 1,500 as Muhlenberg's Jenn Lynch (4:41.95) will battle Ursinus' Christa Johnson (4:43.41), Hopkins' Laura Paulsen (4:43.96) and Swarthmore's Cait Mullarkey (4:44.02) to the wire.

Women's Tennis Championship website
The best netters in the Conference meet in the Charm City as Hopkins meets Haverford and Washington takes on Muhlenberg beginning Saturday at 11 a.m. The Jays, ranked ninth nationally, will look to the 1-2 combo of Carolyn Warren and Anita Bhamidipati to carry them to their third straight title.

Softball Championship website
The annual double-elimination softball tournament will once again be held at Ursinus beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning. Gettysburg, led by Conference Player of the Year Erin Ober, and Muhlenberg get things started, while UC and Haverford plays in the day's second game. The top-seeded Bears will hand the ball over to Centennial Pitcher of the Year Lauren Davis and a 0.75 ERA as UC looks to defend its title.

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.

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.

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.

Weekend Preview

The second full weekend of spring sets up the first full weekend of Centennial Conference competition. Big games are on tap on the diamond, the turf and the courts, while the golf and track teams are also involved in big events.

Ursinus at Johns Hopkins (Baseball)
The series between the Bears (1-0 CC, 9-5-1) and the Blue Jays (1-0, 8-7) is renewed for the 56th year 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 (180-91 entering Friday) and Hopkins' Bob Babb (218-51-1 entering Friday). Something has to give in this one, as the Jays lead the Conference with a .399 team batting average, while the Bears top the loop in team ERA (3.44).

McDaniel Spring Invitational (Men's Golf)
It's the unofficial tuneup for the Conference championship at The Bridges GC in Abbottstown, Pa. Franklin & Marshall posted the lowest team stroke average during the fall (305.4), while Muhlenberg (311.9) and defending champion McDaniel (314.9) were second and third. Medalist honors could come down to a battle between Dickinson's Joey Goldstein (75.5 fall avg), F&M's Andrew Woods (75.7), McDaniel's Paul Kovalcheck (76.4) and Muhlenberg's Zachary Oyer (77.0).

Haverford at Washington (Men's Lacrosse)
The #14 Black Squirrels (2-0, 6-2) and the #8 Shoremen (3-0, 8-1) meet for the 20th time since 1990 with Haverford looking for its first-ever victory in the series. In the last meeting in Chestertown in 2007, Washington needed four overtimes to dispatch the scrappy Fords - the closest margin in the series history. Two of the CC's top attackmen will be on display in Haverford's Max Hjelm (22-2-24) and Washington's Jimmy Kielek (17-19-36).

Dickinson at Haverford (Women's Lacrosse)
The 20th ranked Red Devils (2-0, 6-2) travel to the Main Line to take on the surprising Fords (1-1, 7-1). Dickinson has won five straight in the series to take an 8-7 advantage since 1994. Haverford's last triumph was a 17-6 victory at home in 2003. Keep an eye on this matchup - the Fords' Josie Ferri (33-5-38) versus the Devils' Ana Sokol (3rd in CC with 13 caused turnovers).

Haverford at Gettysburg (Softball)
The Fords (2-0, 9-3) and the Bullets (1-1, 15-5) meet in a battle between two of the CC's top teams. Gettysburg holds a 20-4 lead in the series, but Haverford swept the 2008 twinbill, 7-2 and 4-2. The Fords (.305) and Bullets (.296) are 2-3 in the Conference in team batting average, while none of the likely starting pitchers - Becky Garibotto (1-1, 1.77) and Lisa Karmel (2-2, 1.79) from Haverford nor Beth McCullough (8-1, 1.75) and Kristy Rubino (6-4, 1.79) of Gettysburg - have an ERA above 1.80.

Conference Joins Group to Initiate START Officiating Program

The Centennial Conference and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Associate Executive Director Robert A. Lombardi, in conjunction with four other NCAA Division II and III conferences, announced the initiation of the START program at the Pennsylvania State Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (PSAHPERD) annual convention recently.

START stands for Students of Today Are Referees of Tomorrow, with a goal of recruiting new officials in all sports on the collegiate campuses as well as increasing opportunities for scholastic officials to advance to the intercollegiate level.

Member institutions of these conferences will be offering classes to become a registered sports' official with Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association or their sister association in each member institution's respective state throughout the Middle Atlantic Region.

Working in conjunction with the Centennial and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association are the commissioners of the Division II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) along with Division III Capital Athletic Conference (CAC), Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) and Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation (MAC).

"This program will enable students to learn about what it takes to become an official and give graduates of START the opportunity to begin working games immediately," stated Steve Ulrich, Executive Director of the Centennial Conference.

The initial courses are to be offered during the spring semester at several college campuses.

The pilot program offered by the Centennial Conference will aim to recruit officials for baseball, softball, boys lacrosse and girls lacrosse on the first three Thursdays of February, 2009 (2/5, 2/12 and 2/19).

The three sessions will run approximately 75 minutes, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Steinman College Center at Franklin & Marshall College. Although the program is primarily for students from any college or university, others interested in becoming scholastic, and potentially collegiate, officials are encourage to attend.

At the end of the third meeting, students with proper college ID will be offered the opportunity to take the PIAA officiating test for that sport free of charge. Non-students may take the PIAA test at the regular $30 fee.

Those that pass the test will be assisted in contacting local officiating chapters so they can begin officiating PIAA sanctioned events (and other intramural, youth or recreation league events) as soon as possible.

Other pilot programs are tentatively scheduled to be offered at York College of Pennsylvania (CAC), Cabrini College (CSAC), DeSales University (MAC) and Lock Haven University (PSAC).

Girls Got Game

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association is pleased to announce the Girls Got Game Top Ten All-Academic Teams, based on GPAs submitted for the 2007-2008 school year. Through this program, the NFCA honors high school and collegiate softball teams for their success in the classroom.

NCAA Division III
1. Macalester College, 3.549; 2. Wartburg College, 3.540; 3. Kalamazoo College, 3.531; 4. Emerson College, 3.523; 5. Skidmore College, 3.522; 6. Elmhurst College, 3.493; 7. Gettysburg College, 3.488; 8. Piedmont College, 3.450; 8. Springfield College, 3.450; 10. University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, 3.445.

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

Softball Showdown in Swarthmore

Ursinus at Swarthmore (Softball)
It's a second consecutive critical doubleheader for the Bears (8-2 CC, 21-8), as they come off a split against Haverford to take on the high-flying Garnet (8-2, 19-9). Swarthmore leads the Conference in hitting (.301), while Ursinus tops the Centennial in earned run average (0.97). The Garnet's Kathryn Riley is a dual threat, hitting .393 at the plate with four homers and 26 RBI in addition to crafting a 15-4 mark on the mound with a 1.35 ERA. The Bears' Kaitlyn Sutherland is among the top hitters at .373, while Lauren Davis leads the league in wins (17), ERA (0.62) and strikeouts (193).