Tamaqua's Mason Ligenza is pictured at the inaugural Schuylkill League Baseball and Softball Media Day at Pottsville High School's Wellness Center (Staff photo).

Hey, Siri: “Play The Boys Are Back in Town by Thin Lizzy.”

Another chapter in the novel of Schuylkill League baseball is about to be written this season, but first, we must talk about the changes.

As in other sports, Lehighton and Jim Thorpe have departed for greener pastures up north in the Colonial League, forcing a realignment with the divisions of the Schuylkill League. The three-division format has dissolved into two for the upcoming season. Panther Valley and Tri-Valley will make the jump to Division I and join Blue Mountain, North Schuylkill, Pine Grove, Pottsville and Tamaqua. Division I has seven teams, while Division II has eight.

Mahanoy Area, Marian, Minersville, Nativity, Schuylkill Haven, Shenandoah Valley, Weatherly and Williams Valley encompass Division II. Each team will play each of the other teams in its division twice (home and away) for 12 league games in Division I and 14 in Division II.

Opening Day for baseball is Friday, with the first Schuylkill League playing date set for March 25. The final league playing date is May 7, with the Schuylkill League playoffs to follow.

Just like basketball, the top three teams in each division will qualify for a six-team league playoff field. The division champions receive a bye in the quarterfinals, while the Division I No. 2 plays Division II No. 3 and Division I No. 3 takes on Division II No. 2.

Coaches, along with players, joined media members from T102, WPPA, t102sportsnow.com, Skook News, The Times News, The Republican Herald and D-11 Sports during Sunday’s inaugural Schuylkill League Baseball Media Day event at the Pottsville Area High School Wellness Center. Reference Bob Lipsky’s fantastic piece on the first-ever media day events for baseball and softball in the league. Find more on that here.

Before this past Sunday’s festivities concluded, coaches were asked to rank the members of their respective divisions. Weatherly was not present and did not take part in the voting.

Tamaqua took the top spot in the Division I portion of the poll by collecting 42 points and five first-place votes. The Blue Raiders return standout southpaw and University of Pittsburgh commit Mason Ligenza. Pine Grove (35) edged Blue Mountain (34) for the second spot, while D-I newcomer Tri-Valley (30) followed the Eagles in fourth.

Schuylkill Haven claimed the top spot in Division II, racking in 52 points and five first-place votes. Following the Hurricanes, Minersville (42) landed in second, and Marian (39) in third. Nativity (31) and Shenandoah Valley (31) tied for fourth.

T102 Sports Now Schuylkill League Baseball

Preseason Coaches’ Poll

(First-place votes in parentheses)

DIVISION I

1. Tamaqua (5) …………..…. 42

2. Pine Grove………………… 35

3. Blue Mountain ……………34

4. Tri-Valley (1) ….…………..30

5. North Schuylkill …….…… 21

6. Pottsville .………………….. 19

7. Panther Valley ……………. 15

DIVISION II

1. Schuylkill Haven (5) ……… 52

2. Minersville (2) …………….. 42

3. Marian ……..………………… 39

4. (tie) Nativity ………………… 31

4. (tie) Shenandoah Valley … 31

6. Mahanoy Area ………………. 25

7. Williams Valley ……….……. 23

8. Weatherly……………………… 9