If you are a District 9 baseball fan, you have to be living in seventh heaven right now.
The PIAA Class 1A champion will be a team from District 9.
There are no ifs, ands, or buts involved.
DuBois Central Catholic vs. Clarion … Clarion vs. DuBois Central Catholic.
No, this is not some regular-season game in early May.
This isn’t even a Memorial Day showdown for a District 9 title.
This is for more than bragging rights.
This is for all the marbles.
This is for the PIAA championship.
What a time to be a D9 baseball fan.
District 9 champion Clarion did its part on Monday beating District 5 champion Southern Fulton, 3-0.
D9 runner-up and defending PIAA champion DuBois Central Catholic then took care of its part of the bargain Tuesday afternoon taking care of District 1 champion Dock Mennonite, 4-2.
Now, at 10:30 a.m. Thursday the two teams will meet for a third time this season in the biggest game of the season.
And, based on the first two games, it should be anyone’s game.
In the first game, May 11, Clarion led 2-1 going to the seventh inning only to watch DCC score four in the top of the seventh to win, 5-2.
Clarion returned the favor in the District 9 title game May 29.
The Bobcats trailed 3-1 going to the seventh but scored five times in the seventh to win their first District 9 title, 6-3.
So, how will the third game go?
Let’s just say I am glad I am not being asked to bet my house on it.
These are two great teams. Not good teams, great teams.
Clarion has a powerful pitching staff that hasn’t given up a run in three straight PIAA playoff games.
DCC has an offense that has produced 21 runs in three PIAA contests.
Clarion has Dawson Smail, a junior who is already committed to Big East champion Xavier not to mention his younger (don’t call him little) brother Derek, who is also a Division I prospect.
DCC has the reigning YDL Sports Network Player of the Year in Carter Hickman and last year’s Rookie of the Year, Brayden Fox not to mention Aiden Snowberger, who went from a No. 2 starter to an ace almost overnight after Hickman couldn’t pitch in the PIAA playoffs.
Clarion has a strong coaching staff led by Rob Jewett and Lee Weber, a pair of D-2 baseball players along with John King.
DCC is paced by reigning YDL Sports Network Manager of the Year, Adam Fox, who played professionally for the Rangers and Nationals organizations. And Fox is backed up by Evan Snowberger, a great baseball mind of his own, and Daniel Wasovich.
Both teams have players who have committed more than just high school springs to playing baseball. Players who have traveled all over the country to hone their craft.
These teams couldn’t be more evenly matched if you tried.
Thursday should be a lot of fun.
It’s a shame one of them will be state runner-up because they are both championship-worthy.
It will be a great game, and hopefully, all of District 9 will show up to root on the players and coaches.
In the end, it really won’t matter to most outside of DCC and Clarion who wins because all of District 9 wins in this game.
