North Schuylkill coach Jack Flynn gathers his team for a meeting in the pitching circle during a Schuylkill League Division I game against Blue Mountain on March 27 at Dot Seidel Field. (Photo by Bob Lipsky)

The calendar hasn’t quite flipped to April just yet, but the cream of the Schuylkill League already is rising toward the top.

Pine Grove, which knocked off Tamaqua and Class 6A Whitehall in its last two games to improve to 4-0, takes the No. 1 spot in the initial T102 Sports Now Super 7 Softball Poll unveiled Monday.

The Cardinals have a huge week ahead, visiting Pottsville on Tuesday and traveling to North Schuylkill on Thursday for a game that will broadcast on WPPA/A-106 (JZ on play-by-play, Bob Lipsky on color commentary). Then, on Saturday, Pine Grove will host its annual Cardinal Classic, taking on Greater Nanticoke in the semifinals. Williams Valley and Upper Perkiomen will meet in the other semifinal. The consolation and championship games will follow at Stump Field.

Meanwhile in Division II, Williams Valley (5-0) has gotten out of the gates in a hurry, despite an extended basketball season that affected preseason practices. The Vikings made a statement Saturday by holding off rival Tri-Valley 7-5 in front of a big crowd in Hegins. A 4-0 week put Williams Valley at No. 2. So far, the Vikes have outscored their opponents (Line Mountain, Halifax, Marian, Shenandoah Valley and Tri-Valley) by 69-9.

Blue Mountain, under new head coach Paul Leonard after the passing of Mike Rollman, comes in at No. 3. The Eagles (4-1) won 11-3 at North Schuylkill last Thursday to establish themselves among the upper tier. Blue Mountain is playing a slew of underclassmen, including some freshmen in key starting positions. The only loss was a 4-2 setback to District 11 Class 6A power Emmaus (5-1).

Schuylkill Haven, another team that had extended winter seasons in basketball and swimming, rallied for a huge 6-5 win in eight innings over Tri-Valley last Thursday to take the No. 4 spot. The Hurricanes (4-0) also defeated Tamaqua, Wyomissing and Nativity thus far. Schuylkill Haven will be tested again this week, traveling to Kutztown on Monday, visiting Minersville on Tuesday, hosting Schuylkill Valley on Wednesday and entertaining Williams Valley on Thursday.

No. 5 Tri-Valley (2-2), No. 6 North Schuylkill (3-2) and No. 7 Tamaqua (3-3) round out the initial rankings. The Bulldogs are dealing with injuries and inexperience in a few spots, but they’ll be ready to roll by the time the playoffs arrive in May. North Schuylkill can club the ball 1-9 in its batting order, but the Spartans need to improve their pitching and defense to challenge the top teams. Tamaqua has several senior leaders as position players and is going mainly with two freshman pitchers. A 10-2 victory over Pottsville gave the Blue Raiders the nod in this poll over the Crimson Tide (4-2).

Look for the T102 Sports Now Super 7 Softball Poll each Monday.

T102 Sports Now Super 7 Softball Poll

(Through games played Saturday, March 29)

1. Pine Grove (4-0)

Last poll: NA

Last week’s results: W Lourdes (19-0, 3 inn.), W Tamaqua (7-0), W Whitehall (9-4)

This week’s schedule: at Pottsville (Tuesday), at North Schuylkill (Thursday), vs. Greater Nanticoke, Cardinal Classic (Saturday), vs. Williams Valley or Upper Perkiomen, Cardinal Classic (Saturday)

2. Williams Valley (5-0)

Last poll: NA

Last week’s results: W Halifax (14-4, 5 inn.), W Marian (10-0, 5 inn.), W Shenandoah Valley (23-0, 3 inn.), W Tri-Valley (7-5)

This week’s schedule: at Weatherly (Tuesday), at Schuylkill Haven (Thursday), vs. Upper Perkiomen, Cardinal Classic (Saturday), vs. Pine Grove or Greater Nanticoke, Cardinal Classic (Saturday)

3. Blue Mountain (4-1)

Last poll: NA

Last week’s results: W Panther Valley (15-0, 3 inn.), W North Schuylkill (11-3)

This week’s schedule: Mahanoy Area (Tuesday), Tamaqua (Thursday)

4. Schuylkill Haven (4-0)

Last poll: NA

Last week’s results: W Wyomissing (12-6), W Nativity (19-0, 4 inn.), W Tri-Valley (6-5, 8 inn.)

This week’s schedule: at Kutztown (Monday), at Minersville (Tuesday), Schuylkill Valley (Wednesday), Williams Valley (Thursday)

5. Tri-Valley (2-2)

Last poll: NA

Last week’s results: W Minersville (18-2, 5 inn.), L Schuylkill Haven (6-5, 8 inn.), L Williams Valley (7-5)

This week’s schedule: Nativity (Tuesday), Shenandoah Valley (Thursday), at Halifax (Saturday)

6. North Schuylkill (3-2)

Last poll: NA

Last week’s results: W Mahanoy Area (23-2, 5 inn.), L Blue Mountain (11-3)

This week’s schedule: at Panther Valley (Tuesday), Pine Grove (Thursday), Berwick (Saturday)

7. Tamaqua (3-3)

Last poll: NA

Last week’s results: W Pottsville (10-2), L Pine Grove (7-0), W Lincoln Leadership (17-1, 3 inn.)

This week’s schedule: Lourdes (Tuesday), at Blue Mountain (Thursday), at Lehighton (Friday)

—- Compiled by Bob Lipsky