District schedule and preview

It's that time of year again. It's now or never for teams, win-or-go-home is the name of the game.

Here are the area district schedules and a short preview:

Class 4, District 13 Baseball: (All games played at Belton High School)

Monday, May 17
11 a.m. - (4) Ray-Pec vs. (5) Sedalia Smith-Cotton
1:45 p.m. - (3) Lee's Summit vs. (6) Belton
4 p.m. - (2) Lee's Summit West vs. (7) Warrensburg

Tuesday, May 18
2 p.m. (1) Lee's Summit North vs. Ray-Pec/Smith-Cotton winner
4:30 p.m. Lee's Summit West/Warrensburg vs. Lee's Summit/Belton winner

Wednesday, May 19
Time TBD - Championship Game

This has got to be one of the most competitive districts in the state that is completely up in the air. I suppose you could consider North the favorite due to their experience having been to the state championship a year ago.

But if they're the favorite, it's probably not by much.

It seems like just about every team in this bracket has beaten each other. West defeated North in the Eastern Jackson County Tournament in a competitive, entertaining 7-5 win. North defeated Lee's Summit twice, although the second game was 3-2. Belton defeated West twice this season in tightly contested games. Ray-Pec split two games with both North and Lee's Summit.

There could be a couple of really interesting semifinal games between LSN and Ray-Pec, and Lee's Summit West and Lee's Summit. North blew a lead against the Panthers a couple of weeks ago and the other two cross-town rivals haven't met in a few years.

It's impossible to look at this bracket and say there is a 100 percent clear-cut favorite. Aside from probably a couple teams, just about anybody could win this thing. One thing's for sure, though, it won't be easy.



Class 3, District 13 Girls Soccer: (All games played at Ray-Pec High School)

Saturday, May 15
11 a.m. - (4) Lee's Summit vs. (5) Belton
1 p.m. - (3) Sedalia Smith-Cotton vs. (6) Grandview

Tuesday, May 18
5 p.m. - (1) Lee's Summit West vs. Lee's Summit/Belton winner
7 p.m. - (2) Ray-Pec vs. Smith-Cotton/Grandview winner

Thursday, May 20
6:30 p.m. - Championship Game

There shouldn't be any surprises in the first round of games but the semifinals could definitely provide some fireworks.

The obvious highlight would be LSW and LSHS squaring off Tuesday in the semis and it should happen. The first meeting between the two teams this year was played to a stalemate at the Blue Springs South Tournament. 1-1. I'm sure a lot of people thought that matchup would happen in the finals but a couple early-season losses by the Tigers to both Ray-Pec and Smith-Cotton put them in a tough spot.

Once the semifinals get underway this should be an entertaining district, another one that could be up in the air.



Class 3, District 14 Girls Soccer: (All games played at Raytown High School)

Monday, May 17
4:30 p.m. - (4) Blue Springs South vs. (5) Blue Springs
6:30 p.m. - (3) Raytown vs. (6) Raytown South

Tuesday, May 18
4:30 p.m. - (1) Lee's Summit North vs. BSS-BS winner
6:30 p.m. - (2) St. Teresa's Academy vs. Raytown/Raytown South winner

Thursday, May 20
5 p.m. - Championship Game

With all due respect to the teams in this district, this is shaping up to be a Lee's Summit North-St. Teresa's final.

The two teams are clearly the cream of the crop in the district, with the Stars currently ranked No. 8 and the Broncos No. 10. At the same time, neither team will take its opponents lightly.

With that being said, if they do in fact meet in the finals it should be a fantastic game. The two teams have met twice this season with the Stars claiming a 2-1 win in the first meeting with North winning the second time around 1-0.

I'm not sure if you can give one team the edge over the other. If it happens, it should be a heck of a game.


Make sure to check out the Journal Wednesday and Friday for all the results of area teams in their district games. If it's possible, hopefully I can come to you live from some of the games.

Also, don't forget about district tennis and state golf in Wednesday's issue!