On your drive to work this morning, did you pass by any of Delaware County's many high schools? Did you spot any of the occupied ball fields? Student-athletes in jerseys?

The fall season is upon us.

I don't know about the Delco readership, but my summer was a fantastic one. It's a shame to see it creeping toward a close. On the other hand, it brings us to the opening of the fall sports season.

At the Daily Times, we've already got the wheels in motion on our annual high school football preview section. With the other sports, however, they will be highlighted in Tuesday's newspapers.

Harry Chaykun was out and about covering the girls side and I was at The Haverford School for the Inter-Ac Boys Soccer camp, where reigning All-Delco goalkeeper Max Kurtzman (pictured) was putting on a display.

Pick up a copy of the Daily Times to read more about the fall sports season.

I think it goes without saying that Delaware County has never had four teams playing for PIAA basketball championships. So the higher-ups at the Daily Times decided to create a blog for this weekend's big games.

Thus Live at the PIAA Championships was born.

The Daily Times staff that is Bryce Jordan Center-bound will be posting throughout the weekend with random musings, score updates and everything you need to know from Happy Valley. Of course, I'll be posting all weekend on Gettin' Schooled, but please give some love to Live at the PIAA Championships, where you'll find me, columnist John Lohn and girls basketball writer Harry Chaykun typing away at PSU.

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Last installment before hitting the road for PSU. Safe travels to everyone heading up there for the weekend:
Nervous? Who's nervous?

Andre Wilburn isn't. The senior captain for Archbishop Carroll tells all of his teammates (somewhat jokingly, of course) that he hasn't been nervous since playing in eighth grade. His AAU career has taken him to Duke's Cameron Indoor Arena and North Carolina's Dean Smith Center. With the Patriots, he's played at the Palestra.

If only for what's at stake, it doesn't get any bigger than Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center, Wilburn said. So will he be nervous on the bus ride up to State College?

"I think I will, but all the guys will talk for a little bit and then everybody will put their iPods in and just relax," Wilburn said earlier this week. ",I'll put on a little Jay-Z, some Li'l Wayne. None of the new stuff - well, maybe some - but mostly the older stuff.

Wilburn likes Jay-Z's 'The Blueprint' and 'The Black Album' as inspirational music before a game. "But I have to watch," he said. "Sometimes, they take the iPod away from me because I get too hyped up before a game."

Senior guard Kerri Shields had the all-around game Monday night that Archbishop Carroll needed to reclaim the Catholic League Championship. It was Shields' 3-pointer that lifted the Patriots past Archbishop Wood, 35-22, at The Palestra to give them their second league crown in three seasons.

Shields, a McDonald's All-America nominee and a Boston College commit, was stellar: eight points, six rebounds, two steals, one assist, one block. In their first year of PIAA eligibility, the Patriots (24-1) will vie for the District 12 Class AAA title Friday.

For more on the game, pick up a copy of Tuesday's Daily Times. Girls basketball beat writer Harry Chaykun was on the scene.

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In the boys title game ... David beat Goliath.

Class AAA school Neumann-Goretti topped perennial favorite Roman Catholic - a Class AAAA institution - in convincing fashion, 86-53, at The Palestra. The Saints look untouchable these days. Two of Archbishop Carroll's three losses are to them, and District One Class AAAA semifinalist Penn Wood lost to them, too.

Delaware County had a rough showing in Friday's opening round of the District One Class AAAA playoffs. Seven local teams made the bracket, and only three moved on to the next round:

• At Upper Darby, Tre Davis (pictured) and the No. 16 Royals could not keep up with Souderton's A.J. Picard, who shot 8-for-11 from the floor. Harry Chaykun reports.
• At Penn Wood, the No. 3 Patriots were on a mission to make quick work of No. 30 Chichester. Mission accomplished. Matt Smith reports. And Bob Gurecki chips in with video coverage.
• At Chester, the No. 1 Clippers were able to regroup after a difficult week in which freshman point guard Kareem Robinson was shot twice. It was an emotional win. Your favorite blogger was on the scene.
• ELSEWHERE: No. 12 Glen Mills advanced, No. 10 Penncrest was upset and No. 22 Radnor could not spring a road win. The roundup.
  

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When the District One Class AAA and A brackets were unveiled, Strath Haven coach Steve Lewis was a little apprehensive. Reason being, his No. 6 Panthers have to do battle in the first-round with an 11th-seeded Upper Moreland team that "smacked us in the mouth," he said.

More on the brackets.

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Coming Sunday: The Daily Times has you (and the Catholic League playoffs) covered. Sports editor Rob Parent was on hand for Archbishop Carroll's win over West Catholic. A Northeast Philadelphia guy - born and raised - I didn't have to travel too far for Monsignor Bonner's loss to North Catholic, which was held at Archbishop Ryan. We'll have the latest in Sunday's edition.

Girls track writer Harry Chaykun and I are at the District One Classes AA and AAA Championship meet at Coatesville High School today, as we were yesterday.

For boys coverage, click here and here. And for the girls story, click here. The wireless Internet is a bet sketchy here, so I'll be blogging when I get home tonight. More to come, so stay tuned for the latest.