Bold predictions are a mainstay in sports. Athletes and coaches alike proclaim their likely victory before a contest in an effort to motivate their teams.

North Parkland's Connie Mack coach, Ken Mitman, made a declaration that he hopes will come to fruition.

"If we can get through the playoffs, I feel that we can do some real damage down at Limeport [Stadium]," he said, refferring to next month's state playoff tournament.

Mitman, who is in his second year coaching this squad, is excited to be heading to postseason play with a 12-5 record after his team beat the current league leaders in Lehigh-Bethlehem by a score of 4-0. That final shutout was the fourth for North Parkland, which leads all of Lehigh Valley Connie Mack.

The season was a little bit of a struggle out of the gate as Mitman said that it took the players time to get in the groove with one another, but he feels that this is a good baseball team.

"I think talent-wise, this is one of the best teams that I have ever coached," Mitman said earlier this week. "We are very talented. Every night I expect a win."

There are 18 teams in Lehigh Valley Connie Mack Baseball League and 10 of them make the playoffs. Three five games series will be held to determine a league champ and which teams advance to states. The top two teams in the standings earn automatic berths into states. Those two teams face each other in a three-game serires for the league title. The other eight teams match up for three-game series with the four winners going to states.

Before the postseason begins next month, the league's top players, selected by league coaches, will play in an all-star exhibition game on Saturday, June 29 at Limeport Stadium. The first pitch is set for 7 p.m. North Parkland's Zach Fedele, Casey Horvath and Juan Marrero will be representing the Buffaloes in the game.

The playoffs begin a few days after the Fourth of July, when North Parkland hopes to create its own fireworks on the diamond as playoffs start on July 8.

Spearheading that show for North Parkland are a few individuals that Mitman speaks very highly of.

"Jeff Stisoesky has been solid all year with the bat," Mitman said. "He is absolutely a fantastic team player as he does everything you ask him to.

"Nate Kern has been the one that has taken the reins and kept the team under control. He catches for us as I had to move him there based on the team's needs. He is a first baseman and a pitcher, but he is doing a great job as a catcher. Lastly, Alec Bartholomew has been great on the mound."

This summer squad is deep when it comes to pitching, which is a great asset when playing a condensed schedule like the Connie Mack regular season and the postseason tournaments. Mitman and his coaches are confident the players can make a run in the summer heat that will end in triumph, but it will all come down to that arms race to see who is standing tall at Limeport in late July.