Following a one-day weather hiatus, the District One Classes A and AA boys soccer playoffs will pick up today. The semifinal rounds feature Springfield and Delco Christian.

And, as of 1 p.m. Wednesday, the championship games will be played Thursday, which means back to back games. This late in the season, that's a bummer for the players. It equates to no down time to celebrate their title-game berth and no time to rest their obviously tired legs.

We'll see if District One steps up and changes the dates of the impending finals.

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ON THE HARDWOOD

Two Delco volleyball teams extended their seasons Tuesday with huge wins.

In the Class AA bracket, Springfield handled Sun Valley to advance to the district final - Thursday night vs. Merion Mercy, 7:30 p.m., at Norristown H.S.

In the Class A field, Haverford overcame a two-game deficit to overcome Methacton and move into the district semifinals - Thursday night vs. Unionville, 6 p.m., at Spring-Ford H.S.

The District One boys soccer playoffs - like the Phillies and the World Series - will have to wait another day.

The first snowfall of the year has brought about the cancellation of a pair of games with Delco ties.

The Class A semifinal between Delco Christian and New Hope-Solebury will be played Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. at Harry S Truman High School, in Levittown.

The Class AA semifinal between Springfield and Holy Ghost Prep also will be played Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. This one has been moved to Conestoga High School, a little closer to home in Treddyfrin.

Pick up a copy of Wednesday's Daily Times for the latest.

Well, Mother Nature interrupted the World Series ... so why not the District One boys soccer playoffs?

Only two teams from Delaware County (Springfield and Delco Christian) are still alive, and their chances of playing Tuesday look grim. Weather.com calls for 80 percent chance of rain until noon, and showers thereafter.

The schedule, listed below, is in serious question:
Class AA: No. 4 Springfield vs. No. 1 Holy Ghost Prep, at CB West, 7 p.m.
Class A: No. 1 Delco Christian vs. No. 4 New Hope, at Harry S Truman, 5:45 p.m.

I'll be in touch with DC coach Brown Vincent and Springfield coach Jason Piombino Tuesday and will post the latest on the status of those games right here, so be sure to check back. This way, you can save yourself a drive to either of those neutral, Bucks County schools and can stay home (and dry) for the Phillies-Rays in Game 5.

Archbishop Carroll coach Kevin Curley had aspirations of winning a Catholic League boys soccer championship. A year removed from a semifinal appearance, Curley had reason to think big.

But when the CL playoffs kick off today, the Patriots will be watching from the sideline. An offseason alteration to the league’s eight-team playoff system – a product of the Catholic League’s membership in the PIAA – means six teams from the Class AAA Red Division and two from the Class AA Blue Division have moved on.

The disparity between big-school and small-school playoff berths leaves Carroll, which finished third at 13-3 in Blue Division play, out of the postseason. Meanwhile, a 4-10-3 Roman Catholic team sneaked in with the Red Division’s sixth seed.

"It’s unfortunate," Curley said last week. "That’s not just because we’re the third-place team or odd-man out, either. It’s just unfortunate. ...(Conwell-)Egan had a reasonably good season, one of their better seasons in recent years, and six or seven games ago they knew they had no chance at the playoffs. How deflating is that?"

Coaches from each of the Catholic League’s teams voted on the implementation of the current playoff system, Curley said. It was met with some hostility, though, and the Patriots’ coach expects even more resentment when the coaches convene following the playoffs.

"Most of the strong teams are in the other division, yes, but that doesn’t mean the smaller schools can be discounted," Curley said.

Catholic League boys soccer chairman George Todt favors the system that’s in place because of the title chances it provides to the smaller-school squads. The opening round pits the fourth and fifth seeds, both Blue Division teams, guaranteeing that one of them earns a berth to the semifinal round.

"I think the goal each year is to ensure that the best eight move on and we have that," said Todt, the boys soccer coach at Archbishop Ryan. "The 6-2 scenario was something we came up with for this year, our first in the PIAA. …We’ll look at it and reanalyze it when we hold a coaches meeting after the season."

Prior to last season, when Father Judge won the league championship, three teams had traded the championship trophy between themselves in the last 25 seasons: Archbishop Ryan, North Catholic and La Salle -- all Class AAA teams.

Todt said that the PIAA forced the Catholic League's hand in the playoff scenario. Rather than play the CL playoffs over three weeks as it had in years passed, the PIAA ruled that it had to complete its tournament over the course of one week: beginning today, with semifinals Oct. 25 and a final Oct. 28.

"And state playoffs begin Nov. 4," Todt said. "We wanted to keep some of the tradition of the CL alive, and part of that is with the three rounds."

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The District One Class AAA playoffs are underway, with all four of Delco's representatives playing under the lights in 7 p.m. starts.

It's about the time again to start up that infectious All-Delco talk.

And during every high-school season, I implore the readers of this blog to submit their nominations for All-Delco honors. This time, it's for boys soccer.

Of course, not every player can be named All-Delco. So there are Second and Honorable Mention teams, as well.

OK, so here's what you should know about the process:
1. Nomination. You can comment on this blog (kindly, and while paying respect to other players) or send me an e-mail at cvito@delcotimes.com.

2. Outside sources. I don't do this alone, folks. I communicate with county coaches to gauge how they view particular players' ability. And reader input is valuable, too.

3. Intangibles. Goals and shutouts are important, but they're not always direct indicators of a player's ability. For example, a high goal scorer might be the result of playing in a weak league, or in terms of keepers, the defense in front of him might stop a ton of shots before they get to the box. So tell me what makes a player a worthwhile candidate.

For more, check out the feedback I got during the boys basketball season.

The District One boys soccer Classes AAA, AA and A brackets were announced Sunday, and six Delco teams made the cut. Here are the matchups:

Tuesday - Class AAA
24 RADNOR at 9 Pennridge, 7 p.m.
21 PENN WOOD at 12 Neshaminy, 7 p.m.
23 West Chester East at 10 UPPER DARBY, 7 p.m.
27 Cheltenham at 6 STRATH HAVEN, 7 p.m.

Wednesday - Class AA
5 Harriton at 4 SPRINGFIELD, TBD

Wednesday - Class A
8 Plumstead Christian at 1 DELCO CHRISTIAN, 3 p.m.

Keep an eye out for more coverage of the boys soccer playoffs in Monday's edition of the Daily Times.

For boys soccer fans out there waiting to see if your teams will advance to the postseason, reprieve from the waiting game is on the way.

The District One Classes AAA, AA and A playoff brackets will be released Sunday following early-morning coaches meetings.

Check back to Gettin' Schooled throughout the weekend for the latest.

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And onto the football scene, where Andrew McCloskey (pictured) and the Cardinal O'Hara Lions had a difficult time staying afloat against St. Joseph's Prep. O'Hara lost 34-0, suffering its first loss of the season. Jon Campbell's video from the game, highlighted as the Game of the Week, is available here.

In other games...
Springfield used some trickery to slip past Haverford, 21-14
Malvern Prep shut out The Haverford School, 43-0
Penncrest erased a halftime deficit to take down Upper Darby, 27-24
Academy Park's Laquan Frazer netted 162 yards rushing and two scores in a 42-6 rout of Chichester
Episcopal Academy lost captain Stephen Faulkner to injury, but won, 21-12, against Germantown Academy
Archbishop Carroll's ground game churned out 448 yards on 58 carries in blowing out Cardinal Dougherty, 56-21

There's a huge game today in the Del Val between Chester and Glen Mills. Pick up a copy of Sunday's Daily Times for the latest on that one, which will determine the league champ and who likely will be watching the District One playoffs from the grandstands.

We're still a month out from tipoff of the boys basketball season, but it's never too early to talk hoops.

The schedule for the Prime Time Shootout was released this week. And here are a couple of the marquee matchups:

If you're looking for a night out, there might be none better than Friday, Jan. 30 at Villanova's Pavilion, where an incredible doubleheader will feature arguably the county's top teams:
...Penn Wood vs. Neumann-Goretti, 7:30 p.m.
...Chester vs. Roman Catholic, 9 p.m.

The following day, Saturday, Jan. 31, features Lower Merion vs. Coatesville; Pennsbury vs. Norristown; and Plymouth-Whitemarsh vs. Holy Ghost Prep.

For the complete schedule, click here.

Hey, want to work for the Phillies? Seems like there is no better time than now to be working for them. (There was a big game last night, in case you missed it.)

We got a press release at the office about the team needing ballgirls for the upcoming season. And based on the criteria, I figured female high school student-athletes might be perfect for the job. Applicants must have athletic ability; knowledge of baseball; good personal skills; an open schedule; and be at least 18 years old.

Similar to the duties of Miss America, it's not just about being pretty, ladies. These ballgirls are asked to represent the team during media situations off the field. This sounds like a cool opportunity, so hopefully any interested people in Delco will apply and represent us well.

Here's the rest of the applicable information: Applications and resumes are being accepted until Oct. 24. Those qualified will go through a tryout in November at Citizens Bank Park. Those interested should send their resume with photo to: Attn. Ballgirl Applications, c/o The Phillies, Citizens Bank Park, One Citizens Bank Way, Philadelphia, PA 19148, or e-mail mdevicaris@phillies.com. Phillies.com has all the info, as well.

Good luck.

If you've navigated your way to this blog, you likely have seen the new interface of our Web site. I have to admit, it's pretty awesome. For high school sports fans, here's why:

• Video features are in an easy-to-find slot on the right side of the High School Sports page.
• Blog access is right beneath the video.
• The search bar allows readers to read stories that were written more than a year ago.

There's plenty more there, too. The one downside: My boys soccer notebook from last week got lost in the shuffle. I was going to post it today, but I can't. Hopefully everyone got a chance to read about Delco Christian's Mike Schmid, who's not just playing out his senior year. He wants a District One Class A title.

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I was out at an Inter-Ac game yesterday, one with plenty of bearing on the league standings.

Jake Winoski of the Haverford School put one past Hayden Walling of Episcopal Academy for the only goal of the game. It was in the eighth minute and made the difference in a 1-0 win for HS.

FOR MORE: The final boys soccer notebook hits the pages Thursday, and from there --- it's playoffs time. Keep an eye on the Daily Times for all the latest.

You've got to respect the student-athletes who keep their heads up despite posting losing records.

I remember my playing days at Holy Ghost Prep. Back then, our baseball team didn't lose too much but when we'd go on three- or a four-game losing streak, it was the worst feeling in the world.

Anyway, enough about me: Cardinal O'Hara topped Monsignor Bonner, 5-2, Wednesday behind a two-goal day by Jeff Signora (pictured, in blue). Both teams' seasons will end next week bereft of playoff berths.

Yet the guys I talked to were proud of their efforts and seasons. They weren't afraid to pat each other on the back, and overall, they played like a team should: passing well and looking for an open teammate before forcing a shot on his own.

Kudos to student-athletes who demonstrate determination, even in the face of a sub-.500 season.

ALSO: Keep an eye out for Thursday's Daily Times, which is loaded with scholastic notebooks. The boys soccer, volleyball and football notebooks will be in print.

Monsignor Bonner senior forward-center Lijah Thompson gave a verbal commitment Friday to Robert Morris University. His decision was first reported by the Daily Times Sunday. Here is more from interviews with Lijah and his coach at Bonner, Brian Daly:

BRIAN DALY, Friars coach
...on Thompson's potential:
"I think everybody agreed that his ability is at a slightly higher level conference-wise but he believes in the idea of a solid education and finding the right place and feeling comfortable."

...on Thompson making his choice:
"I told him before he left to prepare himself and take some quiet time. I said, 'You have to have two answers prepared. One is, 'Thanks for the offer but I need to speak to my parents first.' And the other is, 'I really want to be a Colonial. I want to play for Robert Morris. When he texted me real late (Friday), I knew which answer he gave them."

LIJAH THOMPSON, Friars senior
...on making his choice:
"I wanted to go somewhere where it would be real easy to fit right in. I wanted to go where it wouldn't be too hard to adapt to after high school. When I saw the school, I knew this was it. And my mom (Cheryl), she was all for it. She was so happy for me."

Monsignor Bonner senior center Lijah Thompson visited Robert Morris University this weekend and he liked what he saw. Thompson wasted little time, committing to the Northeast Conference school hours after making his official visit to the Moon, Pa., campus.

Thompson averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds last season as a Second-Team All-Delco pick a year ago.

Thompson, known for his high-flying dunks and athletic blocked shots will be a freshman there in 2009-10 with Chester's Russell Johnson and North Catholic's Velton Jones in their sophomore seasons with the Colonials.

I have some extras from my interviews with Thompson and Friars coach Brian Daly, but they're at the office ... and I'm at home updating the blog on my off day. I'll post them when I get in on Monday.

Until then, here's the story (which was first reported by the Daily Times). Enjoy the weekend.

Photo by the Philadelphia Daily News

It seemed like yesterday that the boys soccer season was getting underway. Now only two full weeks of the regular season remain and the title hunt is on for several teams.

Among them are Taylor Bensel and Upper Darby and Dennis Zonchar and Strath Haven, pictured. Zonchar, a UD transfer, and the Panthers fell to the Royals this week and lost some serious ground in the Central League race.

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In the notebook, we look at another playoff contender in Archbishop Carroll, whose defense has been the reason for their success.

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Elsewhere, Marple Newtown's Anthony Pezzotti, one of the county's leading goalscorers, has seen an uprise in his play. One reason in particular? Pezzotti credits a summer trip to Brazil where he worked on his skills.

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ON THE GRIDIRON
Another week into the football season and the Daily Times has you covered. We staff every game that features a Delco team, and this weekend was no different.

Video and a story from the game of the week - Garnet Valley 21, Haverford 14 - are available just by clicking the links. John Lohn, our deputy sports editor, has you covered.

In other games:

• Chester took down Interboro, 27-20, for the first time in 11 years
• Cardinal O'Hara, without Corey Brown, eked past Roman 21-14
• Academy Park topped Penn Wood, 33-13, for its first league win
• Episcopal Academy stayed unbeaten, 33-0, by taking its act to Delaware
• Ridley kepts its focus in a 43-0 rout of Harriton
• Sun Valley got rolled by W.C. Rustin, 34-6
• Strath Haven needed its backfield in a 41-20 win over Springfield
• Upper Darby couldn't counter Conestoga's D in a 19-0 shutout

There are three more games today, so stay close to the Daily Times for the latest.