GAMEDAY: Football, other fall sports kick off today

By Mercury Staff

The big day is finally here. We know you're ready -- and so are we.

In addition to 11 high school football games this weekend (our picks available above), there's a full slate of soccer, field hockey and other fall sports is on the schedule for today.

At The Mercury, we're ready to go (as you can see by a 9 a.m. post). Join us tonight at www.GametimePA.com for a live football scoreboard, video and complete coverage of not only the action on the gridiron but also the full rundown on today's other local events.

Follow us on Twitter @PottsMercSports and @GametimePA_SE as we get you amped up all day long. And be sure to follow our sports staff on Twitter:

• Darryl Grumling: @MercSmokinD
• Austin Hertzog: @AustinHertzog
• Jeff Stover: @MercuryXStover
• Rosemarie Ross: @RoseRoss31
• Sam Stewart: @Samuel_Stewart7
• Steve Moore: @smoore1117
• Frank Otto: @fottojourno

You can see all of Darryl's football previews in Friday's Mercury by visiting GametimePA.com:

• PAC-10 favorites to face stiff Week 1 challenges
• Game-by-game preview capsules

Join us on Twitter all day today and get amped up for your favorite team. Tweet us @PottsMercSports & @GametimePA_SE and tell us which game you're going to and who you think will win. Let's see which team has the best support!

High School Football Pigskin Pick 'Em: Week 1

The time has come. Football picks are back in The Mercury!

Each week, our picks will appear in the Friday edition of The Mercury, as we choose a winner in all of the weekend's high school games, as well as a few college and/or pro games (Ursinus, Penn State, Mercury Sports Live.
Eagles, etc.). You'll get an early look on Thursday nights at

Early in the week, we will post poll questions down the left side of the homepage at Mercury Sports Live asking for your vote. The consensus pick for each game will be YOUR pick for the week.

Do you agree with what you see below? Disagree? Would you rather us pick against your team? Let your voice be heard on Twitter, just tweet @PottsMercSports with the hashtag #MercFBPicks.

Without further ado ... it's time for Week 1!

Step Right Up and MAKE YOUR FOOTBALL PICKS!

Football season is nearly upon us.
You'll see a few changes around here, including the exciting move to GametimePA.com for all of our local sports coverage.

But first: High School Football Picks are BACK! And we want YOU to see if you can beat us.

The Mercury Sports staff will be picking every high school game each week, as well as a few others (Ursinus, Penn State, Eagles, etc.) to round the number out to 15 picks each week.

Each Monday, you'll find polls down the left side of Mercury Sports Live asking for your picks for the week. Then, when the picks appear here on Mercury Sports Live - and in Friday editions of The Mercury - you'll not only see picks from Mercury staff, but also the consensus of YOU, the readers and fans.

So, look to your left, and GET VOTING! You have a short week to get your picks in, so do it now and tell your friends and fellow fans to do the same.

Inside Pitch: Pottstown's Richy Masciarelli

Darryl Grumling gets the inside pitch on Pottstown senior shortstop Richy Masciarelli.

Inside Pitch: Methacton's Clayton Harwick

Darryl Grumling gets the inside pitch on Methacton senior catcher Clayton Harwick.

MSL Bracket Challenge Winners!

By Mercury Staff
sports@pottsmerc.com

Louisville beat Michigan in an NCAA Championship game for the ages on Monday night. It also marked the end of our inaugural Mercury Sports Live Bracket Challenge.

The top six finishers all picked Louisville to win it all, but it was Steve (not sports staffer Steve Moore) who finished on top with 123 points.

Finishing second was "Kurthi's Fantastic Bracket" (114 points) and third was "Jeffrey's Notable Bracket" (112 points).

All three of those readers will win $20 American Express Gift Cards from The Mercury.

If you are any of those three, please email Steve Moore at smoore@pottsmerc.com with your name, address and phone number.

Thanks for playing!

MERCURY SPORTS: WEDNESDAY RECAP

Spring-Ford pitcher Tyler Eckman (Kevin Hoffman/The Mercury)

Spring-Ford's David O'Such wins the 100 meters Wednesday. 

 

Wednesday featured a full slate of local sports including coverage of rematches of last season's Pioneer Athletic Conference championship between Spring-Ford and Boyertown in baseball and Spring-Ford and Owen J. Roberts in boys lacrosse. Also Wednesday, the Mercury covered the track and field double dual meet between Boyertown, Spring-Ford and Upper Perkiomen and girls lacrosse action between Methacton and Perkiomen Valley.

BASEBALL: Clutch Klemann, Eckman carry Spring-Ford over Boyertown, 3-2 in 8 innings

BOYS LACROSSE: Owen J. Roberts rallies past Spring-Ford

 TRACK AND FIELD: Spring-Ford boys and girls sweep Boyertown, Upper Perkiomen

GIRLS LACROSSE: Fast-starting Methacton tops Perkiomen Valley, 10-5

WEDNESDAY’S ROUNDUP: Perkiomen Valley softball freshman duo one-hits Boyertown