2016 PIAA Class A Super 16 (mid-April update)
April 17, 2016
By Jacob Gill
Pennsylvania Assistant Director of Scouting
and PBR staff
Three-and-a-half weeks into the season, it's time to roll out the first update to our Super 16s. These team "rankings" aren't a standard Top 25, but rather an effort to predict what everyone is striving for: state tournament berths. Instead of going down a rabbit hole by attempting to order teams from various parts of the state who play against vastly different levels of competition (note: strength of schedule is taken into account), we are going to try to compare apples to apples a bit more. Each update, we will present the schools we think are in the best position to earn state tournament berths out of their respective districts. Below are our predictions, in bracket order, for how we see the PIAA class A state tournament shaping up. A Watch List for each district is also included, with the teams on it absolutely in the mix to make the March to Medlar.
Note: X-Y under "Berth" = [District]-[Bid]. For example, 7-2 is the runner-up from District VII.
| Berth | School | Record | Notes |
| 12-1 | Masterman | 3-2 | Perennially a two-horse race, Masterman knocked off other top district contender GAMP 6-4 on April 6th, and has nice wins over district 3A favorite Franklin Towne Charter and 4A contender Washington. |
| 3-1 | Lancaster County Christian | 1-3 | We aren't going to panic on the defending state champs just yet, as two of their three losses have come vs bigger schools and the third was against an out-of-district opponent. |
| 11-1 | Marian Catholic | 6-0 | Is outscoring opponents 64-1 good? The preseason favorite has four games this week, including big tests vs Tri-Valley and Minersville Area. |
| 1-1 | Christopher Dock Mennonite | 7-0 | Preseason favorite and defending district champ has outscored opponents 66-4. Quality opponents in Jenkintown and 2A New Hope-Solebury on tap this week. |
| 4-1 | North Penn- Mansfield |
7-1 | Preseason favorite is bludgeoning opponents to the tune of 103-28. Will have mettle tested this week in games vs Canton and unbeaten Sayre Area. |
| 2-1 | Forest City | 0-3 | Can't pull the plug just yet on the preseason favorite, which has lost its three games by a combined six runs, all vs quality 2A opponents. Three more games on tap this week against 2A schools as well. |
| 6-1 | Ferndale Area | 4-1 | We flip-flopped the top two spots in this district following the Yellow Jackets' extra-inning win over Portage Area on Friday. An offense that is hitting under .230 will need to get going in order to hold this spot going forward. Two solid tests this week in Berlin Brothersvalley and North Star. |
| 5-2 | Meyersdale Area |
6-1 | Solid start for the back-to-back district runner-up. Junior two-way stud Riley Christner getting it done on the mound (18 IP, 8 H, 6 BB, 37 K) and at the plate (.500 AVG, 5 XBH, 5 BB vs 0 K, 5 SB). |
| 7-1 | California Area | 9-1 | Perennial top contender has scored in double-digits eight times and given up two runs or less six times. The Trojans have other section contenders Bentworth and Carmichaels on tap this week. |
| 6-2 | Portage Area |
5-2 | Slim loss to Ferndale Area knocks the Mustangs down a peg, but they still have a legitimate ace who leads a staff that has walked just 10 in 42 innings. Rematch is scheduled for May 3rd. |
| 10-1 | Rocky Grove |
4-0 |
A quick start that includes a 6-2 win over reigning district champ and state runner-up Eisenhower jumps the Orioles up from the Watch List. |
| 9-2 | Oswayo Valley | 6-0 | Defending district champ has outscored opponents 66-10. |
| 5-1 | Southern Fulton | 7-1 | Gunning for their third straight district title, the Indians are playing some tighter games than in recent years, but, so far, their only loss is a one-run game against a quality 2A program. |
| 7-2 | Greensburg Central Catholic | 7-1 | Eight unanswered runs to finish Saturday's win over Serra Catholic jumps the defending district champ back into the Super 16. Only loss was in season opener against reigning District XII 4A champ. |
| 9-1 | DuBois Central Catholic | 5-0 | Preseason favorite has outscored opponents 56-10 so far through a precipitation-abbreviated schedule. |
| 7-3 | Serra Catholic |
9-1 | Was rolling until a rough three inning stretch against GCC on Saturday. Has scored in double-digits six times and held opponent to three runs or less seven times. Rematch with GCC is slated for Friday. |
Watch List
District I: Jenkintown, Delaware County Christian
District II: Blue Ridge, MMI Prep
District III: Halifax, Millersburg Area
District IV: Sayre Area, Northeast Bradford, Canton, Muncy
District V: Everett Area, McConnellsburg, North Star, Shanksville Stonycreek
District VI: Homer-Center, Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic, Juniata Valley, Blairsville
District VII: Vincentian Academy, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Bishop Canevin, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Union Area
District IX: Clarion Area, Elk County Catholic, Coudersport
District X: Eisenhower, Mercer Area, West Middlesex
District XI: Tri-Valley, Nativity BVM, Williams Valley
District XII: GAMP
Previous PA Super 16 News
4/17 - PAISAA Fab Four (mid-April update)
3/24 - PIAA Class AAAA Preseason Super 16
3/23 - PIAA Class AAA Preseason Super 16
3/22 - PIAA Class AA Preseason Super 16
3/21 - PIAA Class A Preseason Super 16
3/20 - PAISAA Preseason Fab Four
