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As much as Bellwood-Antis has been close to winning the big game over the last several years, they just couldn’t get the big W to earn the name”District Champions.”

Every year Bellwood is playoff contenders but can never beat the teams it needs to beat.

The Devils lost in the District finals in 2015 before bowing out in the first round last season.

“The biggest thing is we didn’t lock in as a team, but I really don’t know why we haven won districts in so long. Last year we weren’t playing our best baseball at the right time,” said Joe Padula.

B-A hasn’t won a District championship since 2003, the same season the Devils won the program’s only PIAA title.

After being a 14 seed last year the Devils are now a 3 seed, and the odds are looking better for Bellwood to make a run to the D6 championship. Bellwood is entering the playoffs with 15-4 winning 11 in a row.

“We are playing good baseball, but we need to continue playing with the same energy and passion we have the last few weeks,” said Coach Steve Conlon. “All teams in the postseason start with a 0-0 record and what happened in the regular season no longer matters.”

Bellwood will face 6 seed Bishop Guilfoyle in the first round of the playoffs Saturday at Bellwood. If they win that game they will face the winner of 7 seed Northern Cambria and 2 seed Blairsville.

Portage looks like a high power team being the number 1 seed in the playoffs and looks favored to win it all. They finished the regular season 15-3.

Padula is excited by his team’s prospects.

“If we play the way we’ve been playing, I think we can win Districts,” he said.