Shikellamy The New Kid In Class 3a Postseason

By STEVE SEMBRAT [email protected]
Friday, October 26, 2001 Page: 3B

Making the District 2 Class 3A playoffs is nothing new for Wyoming Valley
West, Coughlin and Delaware Valley.

It’s a different story for Shikellamy, an import from District 4 which is
making its first postseason appearance.
The Braves (10-9-1 overall) make their playoff debut at 11 a.m. tomorrow
when they play a semifinal game at Wyoming Valley West (12-1-2 vs. WVC, 8-0-1
in 3A). The other semifinal features Delaware Valley (10-6-1, 7-2-1) at
Coughlin (9-5, 8-1) at 3 p.m. today.

The winners play at 7 p.m. Wednesday for the title at Lackawanna County
Stadium. The winner of Wednesday’s game advances to the state playoffs.

Shikellamy is the only Class 3A field hockey team in District 4. The PIAA
deemed that if the Braves finished over .500, they would be allowed to enter
District 2’s tournament to give them a chance to qualify for states.

That never happened prior to this year as Shikellamy went through a rapid
succession of coaching changes. Tammy Fitzgerald, in her third year as varsity
coach for the Braves, has brought stability and success.

“Before I was coach, there was a new coach every two years,” Fitzgerald
said. “The girls would learn something and then the next coach would come in
and say, `No you can’t do that.’ ”

Now the Braves have a “Yes we can” attitude, and a sense of exhilaration
heading into postseason play for the first time.

“That’s all they talk about,” Fitzgerald said. “They are very excited.
They are looking forward to it.”

So much so that Shikellamy went into a mini-slump after clinching a playoff
spot. The Braves figure to be ready to go against Valley West, though, a team
they’ve scouted.

“Our team has looked great this week in practice,” Fitzgerald said. “I
think they’re just like everybody else in our league.”

Shikellamy finished 7-6-1 and fourth in the Susquehanna Valley League. The
SVL consists of Danville, Lewisburg, Line Moutain, Mifflinburg, Milton,
Selinsgrove, Shikellamy and Warrior Run. Lewisburg won the league this season.

District 2 Class 3A

Field Hockey Playoffs



Shikellamy (10-9-1) at Wyoming Valley West (12-1-2), 11 a.m. tomorrow,
Third Avenue School Field, Kingston.

Delaware Valley (10-6-1) at Coughlin (9-5-0), 3 p.m. today, Guthrie Field,
Wilkes-Barre.



Semifinal winners, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Lackawanna County Stadium.