Two Delco baseball teams entered Monday's first round of the PIAA Class AAAA state tournament. None advanced to today's second round.

Pitcher Steve DeCecco had a tough time finding the strike zone in the Marple Newtown's 8-3 loss to Muhlenberg, at Wenger Field in Fredericksburg.

At West Chester University, Mike Pappas gave up just one run but that was one too many in Sun Valley's 1-0 loss to Fleetwood.

We all knew the PIAA Class AAA state baseball tournament was scheduled to begin Monday. We just didn't know where Marple Newtown and Sun Valley would be playing.

Now we do.

The Tigers, District One's runners-up, will play District Three champion Muhlenberg at Wenger Field Monday in Fredericksburg for a 4:30 p.m. first pitch.

The Vanguards, who claimed their first District One title since 2005, are a bit closer to home. They will play Fleetwood, District Three's runner-up, at West Chester University at 4 p.m.

For full coverage of the PIAA Class AAA playoffs, turn to the pages of the Daily Times all this week.

With two Delaware County team's in Thursday's District One Class AAA title game, you knew one team would have to go home unhappy.

Sun Valley, on the strength of a five-run fifth inning, wore the Class AAA crown in a 7-5 win over Marple Newtown. Catcher Joe Maloney hit a home run to lead off the inning and get things going for the Vanguards, who have won 21 straight games.

It also marked a third consecutive come-from-behind win in the playoffs for the Vanguards. They rallied with a two-run walkoff homer in the quarterfinals, scored two runs on a seventh-inning single in the semifinals, and erased early 1-0 and 2-1 deficits against the Tigers. Interestingly, right fielder and pitcher Pat Sheridan was key in all three games.

Both teams will play Monday in the first round of the PIAA Class AAA state tournament. Sun Valley will take on Fleetwood, the District Three runner-up, while Marple Newtown will face District Three champ Muhlenberg. More to come soon on those games.

Wait, what? There's a big game today?

In case you weren't aware - hard to believe, really - there are two local teams vying for one championship.

Marple Newtown (15-6) takes on Sun Valley (19-1) in the District One Class AAA championship game today in a 4 p.m. start at Glen Mills Schools. The Tigers and the Vanguards are the final two remaining teams from Delco still playing on the diamond, so today's game should be a treat.

Make sure you get there early, as parking is usually limited at The Mills. (I'm pretty sure all baseball parking is on the grass field beside the stadium.) See you out there.

Two seasons ended while two more are extended following Tuesday afternoon's playoff games.

Sun Valley and Marple Newtown, the first and second Delco teams to ever make a state-baseball final, both qualified for the state tournament with wins Tuesday. In fact, the two will face each other in Thursday's District One Class AAA final.

Monsignor Bonner's fall in the Catholic League title game wasn't without a solid effort from Conor Kerins, pictured, who was lifted by coach Joe DeBarberie after five-plus strong innings. He gave everything had against St. Joseph's Prep, which looked like one of the strongest teams I've seen all season.

In the Class A bracket, Delco Christian lost to Morrisville on a walk-off grand slam in the eighth inning.