Claysburg-Kimmel High School's bid for a third District 6 Class A championship in four years will begin on May 24 against a field of teams filled with opponents from within the Altoona Mirror coverage area.
The undefeated Lady Bulldogs were unveiled as the top seed in the 6-A tournament when the district released its pairings for all the classifications but AAAA on Friday night.
A total of 11 area teams entered the playoffs in Class AAA, AA and A. Huntingdon captured the second seed in Class AAA through the district formula using wins and schedule strength, Philipsburg-Osceola and Penn Cambria are the third- and fourth-seeded teams in a 16-squad Class AA bracket, and Bellwood-Antis is the No. 3 seed in Class A.
The playoffs open on May 16 with a Class AA first-round contest.
Claysburg will begin defense of its title against the winner of the Portage at Northern Cambria game, which is being played May 21. Bellwood hosts Penns Manor in the other 6-A quarterfinal, looking to advance to face second seed Conemaugh Valley.
P-O, the 2011 PIAA Class AA champion, entertains Cambria Heights in its playoff opener on Thursday, May 17, while Penn Cambria is at home to face Blairsville. As the fifth seed, Central also earned a first-round home date with Forest Hills, but Central Cambria, the No. 9 team, will travel to Bald Eagle Area.
Hollidaysburg will have to win at top seed Bellefonte on May 24 in order to advance to the Class AAA championship game. Huntingdon hosts Somerset in the other 6-AAA semifinal that same day.
All four championship games will be played on May 30 at Beard Field at Nittany Lion Softball Park on the campus of Penn State. The Class AAAA bracket are scheduled to be announced on Wednesday, May 16.
DISTRICT 6 PLAYOFFS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16
CLASS AA FIRST ROUND
Central Cambria (9) at Bald Eagle Area (8)
THURSDAY, MAY 17
CLASS AA FIRST ROUND
Juniata (16) at Ligonier Valley (1)
Blairsville (13) at Penn Cambria (4)
Forest Hills (12) at Central (5)
Cambria Heights (14) at Philipsburg-Osceola (3)
Southern Huntingdon (11) at Marion Center (6)
Westmont Hilltop (10) at Mount Union (7)
Penns Valley (15) at Richland (2)
MONDAY, MAY 21
CLASS AA QUARTERFINALS
Central Cambria/Bald Eagle Area winner vs. Juniata/Ligonier Valley winner at higher seed
Forest Hills/Central winner vs. Blairsville/Penn Cambria winner at higher seed
Southern Huntingdon/Marion Center winner vs. Cambria Heights/Philipsburg-Osceola winner at higher seed
Westmont Hilltop/Mount Union winner vs. Penns Valley/Richland winner at higher seed
CLASS A QUARTERFINALS
Portage (5) at Northern Cambria (4)
Penns Manor (6) at Bellwood-Antis (3)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 23
CLASS AAAA SEMIFINALS
Teams TBA at higher seed
CLASS A SEMIFINALS
Penns Manor/Bellwood-Antis winner at Conemaugh Valley (2)
THURSDAY, MAY 24
CLASS AAA SEMIFINALS
Hollidaysburg (4) at Bellefonte (1)
Somerset (3) at Huntingdon (2)
CLASS AA SEMIFINALS
Quarterfinal winners at higher seed
CLASS A SEMIFINALS
Portage/Northern Cambria winner at Claysburg-Kimmel (1)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 30
CLASS AAAA CHAMPIONSHIP
Teams and times TBA, at Beard Field, University Park
CLASS AAA CHAMPIONSHIP
Teams and times TBA, at Beard Field, University Park
CLASS AA CHAMPIONSHIP
Teams and times TBA, at Beard Field, University Park
CLASS A CHAMPIONSHIP
Teams and times TBA, at Beard Field, University Park
