It probably feels like it’s been a long time since the high school baseball season—hopefully it’s been a month of fun in the sun for most of you—but there is one final post that we need to properly wrap up the 2015 campaign. I was holding the final rankings until after the All-State announcements came out, and now they’re ready to be released. We know which players had the best seasons in 2015, and now it’s time to determine how all of the teams in the Lower Hudson Valley stacked up…
TOP 10 OVERALL
1. Mamaroneck (24-4)—When you have two teams win state titles in different classes, it becomes very difficult to decide which deserves to finish ranked No. 1. (Similarly to how difficult it is to decide on a player of the year.) Mamaroneck and Byram Hills never played during the regular season, so there are no head-to-head results to refer to. I’m sticking with the notion that Class AA is the toughest class to win in the state, and if you breakdown the two rosters, I’d have to say that Mamaroneck has just a bit more depth. But it’s very, very close. Previous ranking: 5
2. Byram Hills (22-5)—Choosing between Mamaroneck and Byram is like splitting hairs, but there’s little doubt about the top two. When you win your final game, it’s safe to say that you had a season to remember. The Bobcats had a dynamic roster, led by one of the most dynamic players in the state in Frankie Vesuvio, and they should be right in the mix again next year. Looking ahead, they could enter the 2016 season as the No. 1 team in the area because they have more coming back than Mamaroneck. PR: 4
3. Salesian (19-7)—The Eagles surely went into the offseason with bittersweet emotions. They were one out away from their first ever CHSAA ‘AA’ Division championship, only to see it slip away in a wild extra innings affair and then follow it up with a loss the next day. It was not an ideal ending, but that shouldn’t take away from what this group accomplished. Few would question whether Salesian had the talent to win it all, and if not for a troublesome cut on the left hand of ace Nicky Gennarelli, we might be talking about the Eagles as CHSAA champs. Still, this team was as solid as any in the area up the middle and will be remembered for changing the perception of this once-fading program. PR: 7
4. Ketcham (20-4)—The Class AA runner-up didn’t have quite as much offensive firepower as it did in its 2014 championship season, but the Indians were still among the best in Section 1. They got great pitching all year long and played excellent defense, with ace Tim Zehnbauer being about as valuable of a player as you’ll find in this area. They won the toughest league in Section 1 and were one of only four local teams to reach the 20-win plateau. PR: 2
5. Rye (21-3)—Like Ketcham, Rye had a memorable year and finished second in its class after looking like the front-runner for most of the regular season. Garnets fans will probably point to the fact that they had to face Vesuvio against Byram in the championship game while their ace, George Kirby, was unavailable. Kirby beat the eventual state champs to clinch a league title earlier in the season, so we know that Rye and Byram were very evenly matched. The Garnets lost head-to-head to Ketcham, but they clearly belong in the top five. PR: 3
6. Iona Prep (17-6)—The Gaels looked poised to make a run in the CHSAA, and if not for a walk-off loss to Salesian in the championship round, they probably would have ended up in the top five. I still say that Iona had more pitching depth than any team in the area. Ace Brad Case won the Ron Patnosh Award (CHSAA MVP), No. 2 Matt Mancino had a tremendous year and the Gaels were able to roll out a handful of quality arms behind them. The offense sputtered a bit in the playoffs, but Iona could have hung with any team in the top five. PR: 1
7. Arlington (15-6)—Which team gave Mamaroneck its toughest game en route to a state title? That would be the Admirals, who had a one-run lead in the 13th inning before an Andy Karlan walk-off hit ended Arlington’s season. In their first year under new coach Darrell Flynn, the Admirals remained one of the elite teams in Section 1 and showed why they should never be counted out. PR: 6
8. John Jay (14-8-1)—Byram Hills and Rye formed an obvious top two in Class A, and there’s little doubt that John Jay was the clear No. 3 in the pecking order. The Indians may not have had a shutdown ace, a la Byram’s Vesuvio or Rye’s Kirby, but they did have one of the most complete teams in the area. They started the season 1-5 before putting it all together and finishing by winning 13 of their final 17. PR: Not ranked
9. Fox Lane (14-8-1)—The Foxes may have taken a slight step back after reaching back-to-back Class AA finals in 2013-14, but they were still a top 10 team, in my opinion. Senior Andrew Workman led a team that played many juniors and underclassmen to the semis, and while losing him will hurt, Fox Lane should be back in 2016 with a more experienced roster. PR: 9
10. Rye Country Day (16-5)—It’s very difficult to compare RCDS to the rest of the teams in the Lower Hudson Valley because they rarely play each other, but it’s also impossible to dismiss a team that won an NYSAIS championship. Many who I’ve spoken to compare the NYSAIS to Class B because the enrollment is generally similar to smaller public schools. I’m not sure how they’d fare against a Mamaroneck or a Byram Hills, but there’s no doubt that the Wildcats have talent. Catcher Liam Dalton is heading to Notre Dame and sophomore Enzo Stefanoni is a do-it-all player who should attract a lot of interest. PR: NR
On the fringe: Albertus Magnus (18-6), Clarkstown South (13-8), Horace Greeley (15-7), North Rockland (14-8), Stepinac (17-9)
CLASS AA
1. Mamaroneck (24-4) PR: 2
2. Ketcham (20-4) PR: 1
3. Arlington (15-6) PR: 3
4. Fox Lane (14-8-1) PR: 5
5. Horace Greeley (15-7) PR: 4
6. North Rockland (14-8) PR: 7
7. Clarkstown South (13-8) PR: 6
8. Suffern (14-8) PR: 8
9. Mahopac (13-8) PR: 10
10. New Rochelle (10-12) PR: NR
On the fringe: Ossining (11-9-1), Scarsdale (8-12), White Plains (10-12)
NOTES: The top four consists of the teams that reached the semifinals, and I think that Greeley is the obvious choice for No. 5. This was the best season that the Quakers have had since I’ve been on the beat, and it’s worth noting that they swept Fox Lane in the regular season before losing a close one to the Foxes in the postseason. ... North Rockland had a tough draw with Mamaroneck in the quarterfinals, but this is a young group with loads of talent. You could make a case for the Red Raiders as the favorite next season with all of the players that they’ll be bringing back. ... South split with North Rockland in the regular season and edged the Red Raiders for a league title, but an unexpected loss in the first round of the playoffs wasn’t an ideal way to end the year. Still, there were obvious signs of progress in coach Mike Amendola’s second season at the helm. ... Suffern finished third in the league behind Clarkstown South and North Rockland, but a first round win over Mahopac keeps the Mounties in the top eight. ... Despite finishing under .500, an upset win over South and a trip to the quarterfinals proved that New Ro belongs in the top 10. When ace JoJo Gray pitched, the Huguenots could beat just about anyone.
CLASS A
1. Byram Hills (22-5) PR: 1
2. Rye (21-3) PR: 2
3. John Jay (14-8-1) PR: 3
4. Lincoln (18-5) PR: 10
5. Lakeland (14-8) PR: 6
6. Harrison (12-10) PR: NR
7. Eastchester (12-9) PR: 4
8. Beacon (13-9-1) PR: 7
9. Nyack (12-10) PR: NR
10. Yorktown (13-8) PR: 8
On the fringe: Pearl River (9-13), Somers (11-11), Tappan Zee (10-11)
NOTES: We went over the top three up top, but the fourth spot was a bit more complicated. This was probably the best season that Lincoln has ever had, and the Lancers earned respect around the section with a surprise trip to the semis. It’s difficult to judge how they would have fared against the likes of Lakeland, Harrison or Eastchester, but when you consider that Lincoln finished with a better record and went further in the playoffs, I would have had a hard time moving them behind those teams. ... Harrison makes the biggest jump into the rankings thanks to a very strong finish. The Huskies started slow with a young team but really came on at the end of the year, including a win over Eastchester in the first round. ... The playoffs continue to haunt Eastchester, which has been following up solid regular seasons with early exits in recent years. But, let’s not forget that the Eagles were one of the few teams to beat eventual state champ Byram. ... Beacon and Nyack both get some credit for making it out of the first round, while Yorktown was the most consistent among the rest of the teams in the class.
CLASS B
1. Albertus Magnus (18-6) PR: 1
2. Keio (18-6) PR: 3
3. Valhalla (16-7) PR: 5
4. Putnam Valley (15-7-1) PR: 7
5. Ardsley (15-7) PR: 4
6. Briarcliff (15-7) PR: 2
7. Croton-Harmon (16-6) PR: 6
8. Dobbs Ferry (11-11) PR: 9
9. Blind Brook (12-9) PR: NR
10. Pawling (12-9) PR: NR
On the fringe: Hastings (10-11), North Salem (9-13), Pleasantville (10-12)
NOTES: Magnus was able to hold onto the No. 1 spot by winning its first section title since 1994, while Keio showed that it wasn’t very far behind by pushing the Falcons to 14 innings in the championship game. Pitching depth was the name of the game for the top two, who outlasted the rest of the class because they could trot out three or four reliable arms. ... Pitching was also a strength for Valhalla, led by the 1-2 punch of Steven Franzese and Jason Wolfthal, both of whom will be back next season. The Vikings also took the eventual champs to extra innings in the semis. ... It’s been a steady climb up for Put Valley, which earned a spot in the top four after reaching the semis. ... My pre-tourney pick to win it all, Ardsley, was eliminated in the quarters, but the Panthers closed out the regular season with 11 straight wins. They were a dangerous team, no doubt. ... Briarcliff and Croton were clearly next in line, with the Bears getting the edge because they swept the Tigers. ... Dobbs swept Blind Brook, which earned the Eagles the No. 8 ranking.
CLASS C
1. Tuckahoe (18-5) PR: 1
2. Solomon Schechter (11-7) PR: 3
3. Haldane (6-15) PR: 2
4. Hamilton (2-16) PR: 4
NOTES: Tuckahoe was the front-runner from start-to-finish, and it turned out that they were a few notches above anyone else in the class. ... Schechter jumps ahead of Haldane after beating the Blue Devils in the semis.
CATHOLICS/PRIVATES
1. Salesian (19-7) PR: 2
2. Iona Prep (17-6) PR: 1
3. Rye Country Day (16-5) PR: 4
4. Stepinac (17-9) PR: 3
5. Hackley (14-7) PR: NR
On the fringe: Harvey (3-12), Kennedy (9-12), Sacred Heart (2-14)
NOTES: Salesian’s win over Iona in the playoffs and trip to the CHSAA ‘AA’ Division Championship Series earned the Eagles the No. 1 ranking, while RCDS moves into the top three after winning the NYSAIS. ... Stepinac just missed out on the championship round in the CHSAA, but still had a nice bounce back season after a down year in 2014. ... Hackley rounds out the top five after reaching the NYSAIS championship game, where the Hornets lost to RCDS.
The post Lohud Baseball Rankings: FINAL edition of 2015 appeared first on The LoHud Baseball Blog.
