By Michael Minnich -Mineral Daily News Tribune Sports Editor

Keyser, WV- Fresh off a Region XX title last weekend, the Potomac State Catamounts shoot for more this weekend in the NJCAA Eastern District Tournament at Adelphia University in Garden City, New York.

PSC(35-12), along with USC-Sumter (51-9), Monroe College(30-12) and Spartanburg Methodist (51-7), will fight it out for a bid to the NJCAA World Series.

Little identified pitching as a big key for his programýs run to the Region XX title last weekend.

"We got three quality starts, which really saved our bullpen," he said.  "We only used four pitchers."

Offensively, Little got "very good, steady hitting.  Coach Schafer works well with these guys."

What also has to hearten PSC's program is the success of Region XX in the district tournament.

The winner of Region XX, whether it was Potomac State or Hagerstown has advanced to the World Series four out of the last five years.

Looking at his completion this weekend Little is very familiar with one opponent.

"We played Monroe College earlier this year and we spilt with them.  Both games were really good games."

PSC took game one of the April 25 doubleheader, 9-6 before falling in the nightcap 10-9.

As for Friday's opening opponent, Spartanburg Methodist, it's a team that Little has seen in the past years.

"They've beaten us more than we've beaten them," Little said, with three of their meetings deciding who advanced to the JUCO World Series.

Spartanburg won the Region X tournament to punch their ticket.

Ranked ninth in the country, the Pioneers have a tremendous pitching staff: four pitchers have at least five wins and an ERA below 2.07.

As you'd expect from a 51-9 team, USC-Sumter can hit (.347 team batting average) and pitch (3.09 ERA and 424 strikeouts in 372 2/3 innings).

The Fire Ants won the Region X regular season and are ranked fifth in the country.

PSC has reached this peak despite a slow 3-6 start to the campaign.

"We historically start slow because we schedule good teams," said Little.

That tough scheduling, Little hopes will pay dividends this weekend.