Local teams charting their course in PIAA tournaments

Seven Delaware County fall sports teams will take part in the PIAA playoffs starting Tuesday, a contingent that skews heavily in favor of the Catholic League.

Cardinal O’Hara leads the way for four PCL squads representing District 12, with both the Lions’ field hockey and volleyball squads vying for PIAA championships.

The O’Hara field hockey team is the District 12 Class 3A champ. It starts its states road by hosting Owen J. Roberts, the fourth seed from District 1, at the Germantown Super Site Tuesday afternoon at four. That’s the back-half of a doubleheader that starts with District 12 Class 2A (and Catholic League) champ Bonner & Prendergast taking on District 3 fourth seed Berks Catholic at 2 p.m.

The O’Hara volleyball team, which earned District 12’s third seed in Class 3A, ventures to Methacton to play District 1 champ Pope John Paul at 6 p.m.

The Class 4A volleyball tournament is the only one to feature two Delco schools. District 12 champ Archbishop Carroll opens with District 1 fourth seed Pennsbury at Bishop McDevitt at 3:45. Garnet Valley, the defending state champ, draws the fifth seed from District 1. It’ll tangle with District 3 champion Hempfield at Manheim Township at 7:30. It’s the same seed and westerly path that the Jags rode to the state title last year.

Also in volleyball, District 1 Class A champion Sacred Heart has a short trip for its first states game, journeying to Lower Merion to take on District 3 runner-up Halifax.

The only soccer team, boys or girls, from Delco in states is Penncrest, the District 1 Class 3A girls soccer runner-up. The Lions head to Hamburg Area High at 7 p.m. to confront District 3 champion Fleetwood.

Quarterfinal games in each tournament will be held Saturday, with the semis next Tuesday. Finals for girls soccer are scheduled at HersheyPark Stadium on Nov. 18. The girls volleyball finals are the same day in a quadrupleheader at Richland High School in Johnstown, while the field hockey playoffs culminate at the Zephyr Sports Complex in Whitehall.