This is the time of the year that every sports fan lives for.

On the local level, high school football is winding down to the point where teams are battling for playoff positions. Soccer, field hockey, girls volleyball playoffs have just about been penciled in.Golf season is nearing its end and district cross country meets are lined up for next week.On the national scene, you have you pick of the litter. Major League Baseball post-season, College and NFL football, Sprint Cup racing buffs have "The Chase", hockey season is underway and the NBA is about to begin regular season play and College Basketball practice starts this week.So if your wife or girlfriend hides your remote or you can't find your car keys to head out to a local event, you're out of luck.Lets look at the fate of some of our local teams first.On the high school football scene, I have to say that the Pleasant Valley Bears are the surprise of the Class 4A bracket in District 11 and young Jim Terwillinger has turned around the program in Brodheadsville in less than two years.The Bears are unbeaten in the MVC and take on East Stroudsburg South, Terwilliger's alma mater tonight. The Cavs are the other unbeaten team in the MVC so the league title could very well be at stake.Pleasant Valley actually sits in third place in the district rankings behind Easton and Whitehall, the two other 6-1 teams and the Cavs are fifth behind Nazareth at 5-2.This is the year that eight teams make the playoffs and right row when you include Delaware Valley, Williamsport and Wyoming Valley West, there are 11 teams with over .500 records.A playoff berth would really be a feather in Terwilliger's cap.In Class 3A, Lehighton is the only local team this year since Northwestern Lehigh dropped down to 2A. With a 2-5 record, the Indians are fighting for their lives for a .500 season.Northern Lehigh is definitely the team to watch from our area in 2A and it looks like the Bulldogs and North Schuylkill are headed for a showdown again in what they hope is the championship game.The Bulldogs and Spartans are both 7-0 and are 1-2 in the rankings, while Pen Argyl, Jim Thorpe and Pine Grove are all at 6-1.Northwestern Lehigh looms close behind in the sixth spot but has a big game against the Green Knights Saturday afternoon.The problem is, this year the district only gets four teams in the playoffs. If they don't make districts, I see the Olympians and Tigers battling for Eastern Conference berths.It looks like the area will be without any Class A teams in the post-season since Marian and Panther Valley are having down years.On the boys soccer scene, Pleasant Valley suffered a tough loss in the MVC championship game last night which could hurt its district seedings. Tamaqua also lost in the Schuylkill League semis as did Northwestern in the Colonial semis. Look for all three in next week's district action.In girls soccer, the Tamaqua girls fell in the Schuylkill League semifinals but their 15-3-1 record will get them into fall districts.Lehighton has been the team to beat on the local field hockey scene and the Indians won the MVC crown last night and begin defense of their district and hopefully state title next week.Pleasant Valley, Northern Lehigh and Northwestern Lehigh have also qualified for districts.Marian knocked off Schuylkill League rival Nativity last night to finish the regular season unbeaten and earn a spot in the Schuylkill League playoffs next Wednesday for the first time since 2006.The Golden Girls and Fillies are sure to meet down the road at districts.Pleasant Valley, Lehighton, Panther Valley and Tamaqua should all also be in districts.Palmerton's Ben Andrews makes his first trip to the PIAA Golf Championships on Monday and Cross Country runners have eyes set on districts next week.Phillies and Yankees fans have their fingers crossed that their team can win two in a row and sneak into the World Series. One of the two might make it, but I wouldn't bet on both.Notre Dame fans head to the new Meadowlands Stadium to catch the Irish against Navy this weekend and Penn State fans, what can I say?Maybe the Lions will get a win against Minnesota. Too bad there are no more Kent State's or Youngstown State's on the schedule.And if that isn't enough?I've got my New York Giants, Duke Blue Devils, Philadelphia Flyers and 76ers and Jimmy Johnson to cheer on.No matter what they say, this is the best time of year to be a sports fan!!!