Rain has been an issue all summer for legion baseball throughout the area and it could play into things again this week as the NORCO playoffs get underway on Tuesday night.

With rain slated for Tuesday and Wednesday night's and with three game series being played in successive fashion, a July 15 deadline to crown a champion could bring some double-header action into play this week.

As far as how the top eight teams played out, Hellertown (16-1-1), Easton (12-4-1) and Northampton (10-8) were the three division winners this year.

Hellertown took home the top-seed in the tournament and they'll face eighth-seeded Wanderers (9-8-1) in the opening round. The Birches face off against Nazareth (9-8-1) in two versus seven matchup, while third-seeded Easton plays sixth-seeded Big Pocono (9-7-2).

Roseto (10-8) and Northampton square off in a four-five battle to round out the first round.

Hellertown and The Birches enter the tournament as the clear favorites to come away with the NORCO title, as the teams split their two contests this season.

Wanderers coach Dwight Pulieri saw his team lose to Hellertown 8-6 on Sunday and knows he has an uphill battle to upset the proverbial top team.

"It's all going to come down to pitching," Pulieri said. "They [Hellertown] have a very balanced team, but teams like The Birches and Easton have very good pitching too. We're just going to give it our best shot."

Playoffs are scheduled to go Tuesday and Wednesday nights in the best of three series, with Thursday being slated for a deciding third game.

The semifinal round then kicks off this Friday and will run through Sunday.

Finals will then start next Monday and run through Wednesday, July 15.

NORCO LEGION PLAYOFFS

Best of 3 series

July 7

5:30 - Wanderers at Hellertown

5:30 - Roseto at Northampton

5:30 - Nazareth at Birches

7:30 - Big Pocono at Easton

July 8

5:30 - Hellertown at Wanderers

5:30 - Northampton at Roseto

5:30 - Easton at Big Pocono

5:30 - Birches at Nazareth

July 9

5:30 - Wanderers at Hellertown

5:30 - Northampton at Roseto

5:30 - Nazareth at Birches

7:30 - Big Pocono at Easton