Tamaqua head coach Tony Zancofsky talks with his team during a timeout in a game at Blue Mountain on April 26 at Patton Field. (Photo by Bob Lipsky)

We’ve got a new leader of the pack.

Williams Valley (17-1), after a 3-0 week that included romps over Northern Lehigh, Schuylkill Haven and Tri-Valley, has taken over the No. 1 spot in the T102 Sports Now Super 7 Softball Poll. The Vikings ranked No. 3 last week.

The Vikes, who outscored those three foes 42-5, have won nine in a row since their only loss of the season, 9-2 to Pine Grove on April 6. They’ve scored in double figures in 14-of-18 games and average 14.2 runs per game. On defense, the Vikes have posted nine shutouts.

North Schuylkill (13-3) remains steady at No. 2 after beating Berwick, Pine Grove and Lourdes but falling to Tamaqua.

Pine Grove (16-2) slips from No. 1 to No. 3 after its 2-0 defeat to North Schuylkill.

The big mover of the week is surging Tamaqua. Winners of five in a row, the Blue Raiders (12-6) climb to No. 4 after being stuck at No. 7 for most of the season. All Tamaqua did last week was win at Blue Mountain (1-0), and win home games against Blue Mountain (4-3), North Schuylkill (4-3) and Tri-Valley (8-2).

Blue Mountain (13-5) comes in at No. 5, down a place from a week ago. After dropping back-to-back games against Tamaqua, the Eagles rebounded by beating Pottsville 12-2 and clubbing District 3 power Hamburg 13-5 atop Hawk Hill.

Tri-Valley (12-5), which had a rough week in losses to Williams Valley and Tamaqua, slips a spot to No. 6.

Schuylkill Haven (13-5) is down one to No. 7. The Hurricanes had a 2-2 week with losses to Schuylkill Valley and Williams Valley followed by wins over Marian and Shamokin.

The Schuylkill League Playoffs are scheduled to begin Saturday with a pair of quarterfinals at Blue Mountain, assuming involved teams get their remaining Schuylkill League games in the books. The Schuylkill League has a meeting scheduled for Wednesday to hammer out more of the details.

In the event of a tie, the first tiebreaker is head to head if Nos. 1 and 2 or Nos. 2 and 3 are tied. The second tiebreaker is District 11 points rating for league games only. If Nos. 3 and 4 are tied, head to head is the first tiebreaker, then if necessary a special tiebreaker game will be played.

Much more on the league playoffs as details become available.

In the latest District 11 rankings, Tri-Valley (A), Williams Valley (AA) and Pine Grove (3A) stand atop their respective classifications. As of today, 14 of the 16 Schuylkill League teams would qualify for districts. In Class 4A, Northwestern Lehigh is No. 1, with North Schuylkill, Blue Mountain and Tamaqua Nos. 2-4. Panther Valley is eighth. In Class AA, behind the Vikings are No. 2 Schuylkill Haven, No. 3 Minersville and No. 4 Mahanoy Area. Pottsville is fourth in Class 5A behind Southern Lehigh, Pleasant Valley and Pocono Mountain East. In Class A, Marian (7-6) is rated second, followed by Shenandoah Valley and Weatherly.

The T102 Sports Now Super 7 Softball Poll, which normally appears each Monday, will have two more editions this season. The next poll will be released May 19 after the conclusion of the regular season and Schuylkill League Playoffs. The final poll will come out after the completion of the district and state playoffs.

T102 Sports Now Super 7 Softball Poll

(Through games played Sunday, May 4)

1. Williams Valley (17-1)

Last poll: No. 3

Last week’s results: W Northern Lehigh (11-4), W Schuylkill Haven (16-1, 3 inn.), W Tri-Valley (15-0, 3 inn.)

This week’s schedule: Minersville (Tuesday), at Nativity (Wednesday), Schuylkill League Playoffs (Saturday, bye into Monday’s semifinals)

2. North Schuylkill (13-3)

Last poll: No. 2

Last week’s results: W Berwick (10-0, 6 inn.), W Pine Grove (2-0), L Tamaqua (4-3), W Lourdes (8-1)

This week’s schedule: at Pottsville (Tuesday), Lourdes (Wednesday), Danville (Thursday), Schuylkill League Playoffs (Saturday, TBA)

3. Pine Grove (16-2)

Last poll: No. 1

Last week’s results: L North Schuylkill (2-0), W Mahanoy Area (15-0, 3 inn.)

This week’s schedule: Panther Valley (Monday), at Blue Mountain (Wednesday), Schuylkill League Playoffs (Saturday, TBA)

4. Tamaqua (12-6)

Last poll: No. 7

Last week’s results: W Blue Mountain (1-0), W Blue Mountain (4-3), W North Schuylkill (4-3), W Tri-Valley (8-2)

This week’s schedule: at Mahanoy Area (Monday), at Panther Valley (Wednesday), Schuylkill League Playoffs (Saturday, TBA)

5. Blue Mountain (13-5)

Last poll: No. 4

Last week’s results: L Tamaqua (1-0), L Tamaqua (4-3), W Pottsville (12-2, 6 inn.), W Hamburg (13-5)

This week’s schedule: at Lourdes (Monday), Pine Grove (Wednesday), Schuylkill League Playoffs (Saturday, TBA)

6. Tri-Valley (12-5)

Last poll: No. 5

Last week’s results: W Shenandoah Valley (7-0, forfeit), L Williams Valley (15-0, 3 inn.), L Tamaqua (8-2)

This week’s schedule: Marian (Monday), Weatherly (Wednesday), Schuylkill League Playoffs (Saturday, TBA)

7. Schuylkill Haven (13-5)

Last poll: No. 6

Last week’s results: L Schuylkill Valley 5-2 (comp. of susp. game), L Williams Valley (16-1, 3 inn.), W Marian (7-5), W Shamokin (9-3)

This week’s schedule: at Weatherly (Monday, ppd. TBA), Shenandoah Valley (Wednesday), Schuylkill League Playoffs (Saturday, TBA)

—- Compiled by Bob Lipsky

Unofficial Schuylkill League Leaders

As reported to T102sportsnow.com through games of May 4. Statistics at the end of the season will be requested from each team via maxpreps or other programs.

Doubles

Hannah Aungst, Pine Grove, 10; Liv Witmer, Tri-Valley, 9; Madison Shiffer, Pine Grove, 8; Sage Smeltz, Williams Valley, 8; Jamie Dinger, Pine Grove, 7; Malina Letcher, Marian, 7; Bella Rizzardi, Minersville, 7; Quin Smeltz, Williams Valley, 7

Triples

Callee Leffler, Pine Grove, 8; Malina Letcher, Marian, 6; Brigid Flynn, North Schuylkill, 5; Aubrey Scanlan, Pottsville, 5; Ella Kobularik, Williams Valley, 4; Janessa Prudente, Panther Valley, 4; Jes Siminitus, Pottsville, 4; Hailey Treskolasky, Marian, 4; 7 tied with 3

Home Runs

Emmerson Frie, Blue Mountain, 8; Sage Smeltz, Williams Valley 6; Morgan O’Brien, Panther Valley, 4; Madison Shiffer, Pine Grove, 4; Hailey Treskolasky, Marian, 4; 10 tied with 3

Pitching Wins

Sage Smeltz, Williams Valley, 10-0; Chelcy Clark, Pine Grove, 10-1; Chloe Brown, Blue Mountain, 8-2; Naomi Knitter, Tamaqua, 8-2; Peyton Eckert, Pottsville, 8-8; Brigid Flynn, North Schuylkill, 7-2; Grace Line, Schuylkill Haven, 7-3; Janessa Prudente, Panther Valley, 7-7