Wondering where the home of high school baseball is this year? Look no further than Huguenot on the South Shore of Staten Island. That’s where the new top two teams in The Post’s New York City high school baseball rankings reside.
St. Joseph by the Sea has advanced to the CHSAA Class A intersectional title game out of the winners bracket to move up three spots in the rankings. One mile down Hylan Boulevard is Tottenville, which will compete for the PSAL Class A championship Friday night at MCU Park in Coney Island. The Pirates also bump up three spots.
Washington Heights took a hit, with a stunning loss by George Washington in the PSAL ‘A’ semifinals, while The Bronx had mixed results, with previous No. 1 James Monroe’s season ending with a loss to Lehman, which, along with St. Raymond in the CHSAA, remains alive in the postseason.
How did your borough do? The answers are below.
1. St. Joseph by the Sea (18-2) (Last week: 4)
The Vikings next game will be Friday night at Kaiser Stadium, where they will compete for the CHSAA Class A intersectional title for the first time since 1993 when they lost to Monsignor McClancy, 3-0, at Yankee Stadium. Sea will have ace Nick Pavia on the mound and everyone in the lineup is hitting. Plus if the Vikings lose, they play again Sunday afternoon at St. John’s.
Next: CHSAA Class A intersectional title game vs. TBA (June 11, 7:30 p.m.)
2. Tottenville (22-1) (Last week: 3)
If there is a better all-around player in the entire city than Zach Granite, we haven’t seen him yet. The Seton Hall-bound center fielder was his typical productive self in the two-hole for the Pirates, scoring and driving in runs, but he also went the distance on the mound to beat George Washington in Game 1 of the best-of-three PSAL Class A semifinal series. What’s next for Granite, catching?
Next: PSAL Class A championship game vs. Lehman (June 11, 7 p.m.)
3. St. Raymond (17-7) (9)
The Ravens have cornered the market on wild playoff endings. On Friday, St. Ray’s turned a game-ending 6-4-3 double play to defeat top-seeded Xaverian, ending the Clippers season, and on Sunday, after blowing a 3-1 lead in the seventh inning, junior right fielder Manny Rivera blasted a two-run home run to right to send the Ravens one game away from a berth in the CHSAA Class A title game.
Next: CHSAA Class A intersectional semifinals vs. No. 8 Xavier (June 8, 7 p.m.)
4. Lehman (18-4) (8)
We’ve talked about the depth of Tottenville’s lineup, but Lehman is right there with the Pirates. It was the back-end of the Lions’ lineup that did the most damage in a 2-1 best-of-three series win over James Madison this past weekend. Seventh-place hitter Julio Velazquez and No. 9 Laurence Marsach, for instance, combined to drive in four runs in Sunday’s clinching 10-6 victory.
Next: PSAL Class A championship game vs. Lehman (June 11, 7 p.m.)
5. James Monroe (18-1) (1)
Blowing a three-run lead in the title game last year was frustrating, but getting eliminated by rival Lehman in the PSAL Class A quarterfinals must’ve been even more maddening for Mike Turo and Co. The Eagles beat the Lions twice this season, including a 14-0 bludgeoning April 29. They had a three-run lead, too, in the fifth inning, with stud freshman Ricardo Parra on the bump.
Next: Season over
6. James Madison (20-2)
Seniors Eddie Lenahan, Joe Calascione, John Yuksekol, Matt Maher, and Chris Mann leave Madison without that elusive city title, but the quintet did everything else the last two years. They won consecutive division crowns and reached the semifinals back-to-back years – more than most expected out of them. No wonder coach Vinny Caiazza said they will always hold a special place in his heart.
Next: Season over
7. George Washington (19-2) (2)
Tottenville unceremoniously swept the Trojans out of the playoffs over the weekend, a shocking end to another productive season in Washington Heights. Look for Steve Mandl’s club to be back in the mix next year again. Catcher Nelson Rodriguez is an absolute stud; he was one bright spot in GW’s disappointing performance, throwing runners out on the bases and having his way with opposing pitching.
Next: Season over
8. Xavier (16-7) (NR)
The eighth-seeded Knights pulled off a stunning upset of top-ranked Xaverian to open the double-elimination CHSAA Class A intersectional tournament Wednesday thanks to a solid pitching performance by sophomore Nick DiLeo. Xavier proved that was no fluke, beating fourth-seeded Stepinac, 10-6, before losing to Sea on Sunday. Rich Duffell’s squad takes on division rival St. Raymond tomorrow for a berth in Friday night’s title game.
Next: CHSAA Class A intersectional semifinals vs. No. 3 St. Raymond @ Kaiser Stadium (June 8, 7 p.m.)
9. Xaverian (19-3) (3)
Another division title, another top seed for the CHSAA Class A intersectional tournament and another early exit for Xaverian. The beginning of the end came Wednesday with a shocking loss to Xavier. The Clippers ousted Bishop Ford in dramatic fashion a day later, but its once promising season ended with a one-run loss to St. Raymond Friday afternoon. A 19-3 season with a pair of one-run losses is something most teams would instantly sign up for, but at Xaverian the expectations are high.
Next: Season complete
10. Morris (16-3) (7)
The Bulldogs’ run to the PSAL Class A quarterfinals is just the latest step in Rich Corbo’s burgeoning program. He led them to the ‘B’ title two years ago, the second round last year, and final eight this spring, in addition to a 14-2 finish in Bronx A East, the best division in the city. With a standout core returning that includes catcher Smaiit Feliz, third baseman Raiky Ortiz and closer Jose Quelix, Morris should challenge Monroe for Bronx supremacy next season.
Next: Season over
New: Lehman (18-4), Morris (16-3), and Xavier (16-7
Dropped out: Monsignor Farrell (13-7), Norman Thomas (16-3), and Poly Prep (21-4-1)
On the bubble: Bishop Ford (15-7), Collegiate (12-5-1), Grand Street Campus (18-1), John Adams (16-2), Monsignor Farrell (13-7), Norman Thomas (16-3), Poly Prep (21-4-1), and St. Francis Prep (13-8)