There will be a new state champion for the PIAA Class A softball tournament.

Cambridge Springs, which lost to eventual winner Curwensville in the 2007 tournament, advanced to the 2008 state quarterfinals with a 1-0 victory over the Golden Tide in Monday's first round game at Penn State Behrend.

The Blue Devils (20-3) took advantage of Curwensville's four errors in the bottom of the fifth inning to produce the game's lone run. Elizabeth Dine scored when Golden Tide third baseman Jenessa Stiles was charged with fielding and throwing errors on a grounder by Cambridge Springs' Jessica Schaefer.

Stephanie Baer made the run hold up, as she outlasted Curwensville ace Holly Lansberry. Baer pitched a five-hit shutout with no walks and 10 strikeouts.

Cambridge Springs will play the winner of Monday's A opener between Vincentian and Fannett Metal. The PIAA quarterfinals will take place Thursday.

Curwensville, the second seed from District 9, saw its season end at 20-3.

-- Mike Copper

It was a rough opening day for District 10.

Of the nine District 10 baseball and softball teams that advanced the PIAA playoffs, five were eliminated in Monday’s first round.

Erie County had a particularly difficult time, as five of six teams from the county saw their seasons come to an end. Only District 10 Class AA softball runner-up Iroquois survived. Meanwhile, D-10 champions Villa Maria (AA), Corry (AAA) and Strong Vincent (AAAA) all suffered agonizingly close losses.

In the baseball playoffs, D-10 champs Villa Maria (A) and McDowell (AAAA) both lost Monday.

The Cambridge Springs softball team, the lone Crawford County representative in the PIAA playoffs, advanced with a 1-0 win over 2007 PIAA champion Curwensville.

If District 10 hopes to end its 30-year run without a PIAA baseball title, the district will rely on two Mercer County teams. Unbeaten Sharon advanced in Class AA on Monday with a 7-2 victory over Bishop Canevin. Hickory took its first step in AAA with a 6-2 victory over Blackhawk.

Iroquois' PIAA playoff softball game today at Indiana, Pa., has been postponed until Friday because of inclement weather.

The Braves were scheduled to play Everett at noon at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

A new game time has not been set; however, it will not necessarily be as early as today's game was scheduled to start. Everett required an early start time because its graduation ceremony is tonight.

Watch www.GoErie.com today for an update on the start time of the rescheduled game.

Class AA and AAA quarterfinals

Class AA quarterfinals
Iroquois Braves (District 10 second seed: 19-5)
vs. Everett Warriors (District 5 champion: 19-2)
Postponed, rain
Game switched to Friday, time to be announced

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Class A quarterfinals

Cambridge Springs Blue Devils (District 10 champion: 20-3)
vs. Vincentian Royals (District 7 champion: 21-2)

PIAA Class AA quarterfinals

Iroquois Braves (District 10 second seed: 19-5)
vs. Everett Warriors (District 5 champion: 19-2)

The Iroquois softball team defeated the Everett Warriors 6-2 in Friday's PIAA Class AA quarterfinals. The Braves (20-5) needed eight innings to eliminate the District 5 champion at Fairhaven Park's Lind Field.

Everett was eliminated at 19-3.

Iroquois scored its decisive four runs in the top of the eighth. Kelce Coon highlighted the winning rally with a three-run double.

The Braves' AA semifinal opponent will be the winner of Friday's quarterfinal between Bald Eagle Area and Washington. That game was scheduled for a 3 p.m. start at Forest Hills High School in Sidman.

The PIAA semifinals are scheduled for Monday at sites and times to be determined. The PIAA AA championship game will take place Friday, June 13, at 2 p.m. at Shippensburg University.

-- Mike Copper

The Iroquois Braves will play the Bald Eagle Area Bald Eagles in Monday's PIAA Class AA softball semifinals. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Slippery Rock University.

The Braves (20-5) advanced with Friday's 6-2 victory over Everett at Fairhaven Park's Lind Field. Iroquois scored four times in the top of the eighth inning.

Bald Eagle Area (21-3) routed Washington 16-5 at Forest Hills High School in Sidman. The Bald Eagles are the District 6 champions.

Monday's winner will play Brandywine Heights or Loyalsock for the AA state title June 13. The championship game is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Shippensburg University's Robb Field.

-- Mike Copper

The fate of the 2008 Iroquois softball team remains unknown. The Braves (20-5) will play Bald Eagle Area (21-3) in Monday's PIAA Class AA semifinal at Slippery Rock University.

What is known is that the Braves will have earned the title if it happens.

Iroquois qualified for the PIAA tournament as the second seed from District 10. A victory over Bald Eagle Area, the District 6 champion, would be the Braves' third over a top seed.

The other side of the AA bracket pits District 3 winner Brandywine Heights and District 4 kingpin Loyalsock.Combined, those teams are 52-1 going into their semifinal at Harrisburg's Brightbill Park.

The Iroquois-BEA game will start at 3 p.m. First pitch for Brandywine Heights and Loyalsock is 7 p.m.

-- Mike Copper

The Iroquois softball team saw its season end in Monday's PIAA Class AA semifinals.

Bald Eagle Area eliminated the Braves with a 4-1 victory at Slippery Rock University. Leadoff hitter Taylor Parsons went 3-for-3 and scored twice, as the Eagles (22-3) advanced to Friday's AA state title game at Shippensburg University.

Iroquois, the second seed from District 10, bowed out at 20-6.

-- Mike Copper

Look for the Erie Times-News District 10 Spring All-Stars in Sunday's sports section.

We'll have the region and District 10 all-star teams, athletes of the year in each sport, photos and a column by high school beat writer Joe Mattis.

On Thursday, Indianapolis Colts star Bob Sanders met with Jackson King and King's family at Gannon University Field. Following is King's story, which was published in the Erie Times-News Varsity edition on Oct. 10, 2007.