Playing a familiar June?

The Girard Academic Music Program baseball team is accustomed to playing in June, but it’s usually for the Public League semifinals or finals.

This year, the Pioneers had the opportunity to qualify for next month’s Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association AA tournament.

A win in yesterday’s District XII AA championship game against Saul " played after press time " would have sent GAMP to the states.

Earlier this month, GAMP’s softball team qualified for its PIAA AA tournament.

"We have a real high-quality student athlete," coach Art Kratchman said. "My kids work real hard, as do the girls."

The Pioneers advanced to the District XII AA championship game by beating Franklin Learning Center 14-0 at home Monday afternoon. The visitors managed just one hit against the South Philly squad in the five-inning contest, which was called due to the 10-run mercy rule. FLC, which finished last in Division B with a 2-14 record, automatically qualified for the postseason because it is the only AA school in its division The 10-6 Pioneers also earned an automatic bid by being Division A’s lone AA squad. Despite the obvious mismatch, Kratchman made sure his players didn’t overlook their opening-round opponent.

"I just tell them not to take anybody for granted," the coach said. "We play the whole year to get to this point. We have to play like it’s our last game because it might be."

The winner of yesterday’s game will play in today’s Public League quarterfinals against either Bok or Franklin Towne Charter, who faced each other in the District XII AAA championship game.

THE PREP CHARTERHuskies lost 7-0 to Saul in Friday’s other District XII AA semifinal contest. It was the first loss of the season for 17-1 Prep Charter, who won the Public League’s Division C crown. On Monday, the Huskies managed just three hits, and things didn’t go much better in the field, as only one of Saul’s runs was earned.