Thumbs up for Upper Dublin’s Sowers, down for Beyoncé

Yeah, sure there are still two lacrosse games to be played before we can close the scorebook on another lacrosse season.

But, there’s plenty of time left and confetti to toss before the boys and girls state champs are decided Saturday at West Chester East (in what most are calling the Beyonce Bowl).

So let’s get started handing out the PAPAs (PaPrep Awards) before things really get serious:

And folks, keep in mind our collective tongues are jammed into our collective cheeks for many of these “honors,” so let’s activate our senses of humor before we begin writing nasty letters of protest.

And keep in mind, these particular honors are for the programs in the Greater Norristown area and do not reflect those schools who participate in the Delaware County and Chester County areas.

The Beyoncé Award

Hey, you’ve got to give it to The Queen B, she sure knows how to schedule concerts. Sure, there’ll be a lot more folks piled into HersheyPark Stadium the evening of June 11 for her show than there would be for a couple of Pa. scholastic state championship games. But, really? I guess the traditional site for the biggest games of the year in the state ain’t that traditional after all. This award should be presented to the Hershey crew for blowing off the loyal lacrosse programs for a big chunk of change. Oh, and save me a spot on the sidelines at West Chester East this Saturday.

Area Male Player of the Year

If anyone shouts out another name other than Upper Dublin’s Michael Sowers or La Salle’s Brett Baskin there should be an investigation. We’ll go with Sowers and let Baskin get his award on the field Saturday afternoon.

Area Female Player of the Year

Sure, there are a ton of deserving young lasses, with Abington’s Sam McGee, Methacton’s Sara Hughes and the North Penn tandem of goalkeeper Michelle Dyck and midfielder Chloe Novak all deserving. But the award here belongs to Plymouth Whitemarsh senior attack Monica Dresnin, who put the Colonials back on the SOL lacrosse map with a season chock full of spunk, grit – and oh yes, goals.

Area Boys Coach of the Year

Again, the field is cluttered with the likes of Upper Dublin’s Dave Sowers and La Salle’s venerable Bill Leahy. But here’s a vote for North Penn’s Rick Smith, who guided the Knights lacrosse program to its first-ever district playoff berth this year. He also gets a few bonus points for using wrestling terms, like bellowing out to his charges such things as, “Short Time,” during the action.

Area Girls Coach of the Year

Ellen Reilly of Plymouth Whitemarsh and Methacton’s Laurie Markle are among the contenders, but let’s go with a wildcard entry – Upper Merion’s Angie Yanocha, who has put up with enough disappointments and defections over the years to fill six or seven nets. Angie keeps plugging, and the Vikings aren’t too far from contention in the future.

Game of the Year

Hey, was there a better matchup than Upper Dublin and Avon Grove for the District One title? The Cardinals made a bundle of noise proving that you don’t have to toil for a Main Line school to collect lacrosse trophies. Honorable Mention: La Salle-Bishop Shanahan in the opening round of states. The Eagles fought from behind the whole game but couldn’t hold the lead when they got it in the fourth quarter. An Eagles possession at the outset of overtime looked like doom for the Explorers, until the stick of La Salle defender Matt Webster intervened and a fastbreak Brett Baskin goal put La Salle into the quarterfinals.

The Fun Award

This is, once again, purely an opinion award, going to the lacrosse site that is the most fun to cover a game. This year’s award goes to La Salle, for its new on-campus site, which features a vocal cheering section, plenty of great matchups and a heavy dose of atmosphere.