2016 PIAA Class A Super 16 (early May update)
May 9, 2016
By Jacob Gill
Pennsylvania Assistant Director of Scouting
and PBR staff
With rain washing out a good chunk of action across the state this past week, compressing schedules the rest of the way, it's time to roll out the second mid-season 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 | 5-4 | Following its 6-4 win over other top district contender GAMP on April 6, Masterman will hold this spot into the Philly Public League playoffs. It would be a major upset if one of those two didn't win this bid. |
| 3-1 | Lancaster County Christian | 8-3 |
Thaaaaaaat's more like it. Defending state champs have won seven in a row following a 1-3 start. Four shutouts and two other games allowing only two runs during that span. Only one loss vs a Class A school. |
| 11-1 | Tri-Valley | 11-6 |
New top dog here, as the Bulldogs knocked off previous favorite Marian Catholic 5-3 on April 20. Unbeaten vs Class A schools. |
| 1-1 | Christopher Dock Mennonite | 13-0 |
Preseason favorite doesn't give up runs. Almost literally. Have outscored opponents 126-6, including wins over 3A contender Holy Ghost Prep and 2A contenders Devon Prep & New Hope-Solebury by a combined score of 20-3. |
| 4-1 | North Penn- Mansfield |
12-4 |
Preseason favorite holds this position after beating other top contender Sayre Area 1-0 on April 18. Three losses against schools in bigger classifications. District appears pretty wide open; lots of close games played between the teams in the mix. |
| 2-1 | Forest City | 4-4 |
Losses by a combined eight runs vs quality 2A schools. Not much separating this team from Blue Ridge, which has a very similar resume. Teams will play a home-and-home May 16 and 18. |
| 6-1 | Ferndale Area | 12-3 | Have gone 8-2 since last update, including completion of a regular-season sweep over other top contender Portage Area and with one of those losses coming vs a 3A school. Have gone a whopping 66-72 in stolen base attempts. |
| 5-2 | Meyersdale Area |
14-3 | You'll forgive the Red Raiders if they are starting to get a complex about district favorite Southern Fulton, against which they are now 1-4 in the past three seasons, with all losses coming by one run. |
| 7-1 | Greensburg Central Catholic | 13-2 | Swept season series from other top contender Serra Catholic. Have been held to less that double digit runs only four times (twice by Serra), and have given up three runs or less ten times. |
| 6-2 | Portage Area |
11-5 | Have gone 6-3 since last update with losses vs district favorite Ferndale Area, plus a 2A and a 3A school. Only losses vs Class A schools so far this season are to Ferndale. |
| 10-1 | Rocky Grove |
10-3 | On a two-game skid after starting 10-1, but has a win over defending state runner-up Eisenhower and split two games with other top contender Mercer Area. |
| 9-2 | Elk County Catholic |
12-1 | An April 27 win over DuBois County Catholic jumps the Crusaders up into this spot. Only loss on the season is to 3A power Punxsutawney Area. |
| 5-1 | Southern Fulton | 12-3 | Two-time defending district champ remains here after continuing its mastery of Meyersdale Area and avenging an early-season loss against solid 2A Chestnut Ridge. |
| 7-2 | California Area | 15-2 | Preseason favorite continues to take care of business, scoring in double digits twelve times and allowing two runs or less eleven times. Will gear up for WPIAL playoffs with three games vs 2A/3A opponents this week. |
| 9-1 | Oswayo Valley |
15-0 |
Defending district champs are rolling again, having won over half their games by mercy rule. |
| 7-3 | Serra Catholic |
16-2 | Only two losses on the season are in closely contested contests vs Greensburg Central Catholic. Have scored in double digits twelve times and given up three runs or less 14 times. |
Watch List
District I: Jenkintown, Delaware County Christian
District II: Blue Ridge, MMI Prep, Old Forge
District III: Christian School of York, Millersburg Area, Halifax
District IV: Sayre Area, Northeast Bradford, Canton, Millville, Muncy
District V: North Star, Shanksville Stonycreek
District VI: Homer-Center, Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic, Juniata Valley, Blairsville, Conemaugh Valley
District VII: Vincentian Academy, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Union Area, Bentworth
District IX: DuBois Central Catholic, Clarion Area, Coudersport, Redbank Valley
District X: Eisenhower, Mercer Area, Cochranton
District XI: Marian Catholic
District XII: GAMP
Previous PA Super 16 News
5/9 - PAISAA Fab Four (early May update)
4/18 - PIAA Class AAAA Super 16 (mid-April update)
4/18 - PIAA Class AAA Super 16 (mid-April update)
4/17 - PIAA Class AA Super 16 (mid-April update)
4/17 - PIAA Class A Super 16 (mid-April update)
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
