After a staggered start, the softball season really gets rolling this week. And these rankings are bound to change with almost every team playing significant games.
No. 3 James Madison, No. 5 Archbishop Molloy, No. 10 Bishop Kearney and Mary Louis will all compete in the Preston tournament. No. 2 Tottenville takes on No. 4 Susan Wagner on Tuesday and No. 7 Moore Catholic meets Notre Dame Academy on Thursday.
Here’s how things look before they get shaken up:
1. St. Joseph by the Sea (1-0) (Last week: 1)
The Vikings have a busy week ahead. They play Staten Island rival St. John Villa at home Tuesday and then welcome Brooklyn/Queens power St. Francis Prep for a non-league game and a scrimmage Thursday. Then in another regular-season tuneup Sea travels to play upstate Nicuyaga and West Harford in Cooperstown on Saturday.
Next: St. John Villa (April 6, 4 p.m.)
2. Tottenville (2-0) (2)
The Pirates made a strong statement last week when they blitzed CHSAA power Moore Catholic, 16-2. Tottenville is still Tottenville – in other words, perhaps New York City’s best team yet again. Scarily enough, most of the hitting in that game was done by No. 9 hitter Jen Palase. Look out.
Next: No. 4 Susan Wagner (April 6, 12 p.m.)
3. James Madison (0-0) (3)
In a host of early-season non-league games, Madison has won all but one: against St. Joseph by the Sea. That’s a good sign for the Knights, who are trying to get back to the PSAL city title game for the second straight year – and win it.
Next: Midwood (April 7, 4 p.m.)
4. Susan Wagner (2-0) (4)
Keep an eye on freshman shortstop Dayna Williams. For a young player, her swagger is unmatched. Two years ago, she told then-Wagner star shortstop Dia Cascone that one day she would take her job. With Cascone now at Caldwell College, Williams has stepped right in as a budding star.
Next: @ No. 2 Tottenville (April 6, 12 p.m.)
5. Archbishop Molloy (0-0) (5)
The Stanners will get to test themselves this week against some of the city’s best squads at the Preston tournament. It will be good for coach Maureen Rosenbaum to get a chance to see where her young supporting cast is in the early early season. Watching Madison’s Kayla Hill and Molloy’s Maria Palmeri dueling at some point could be a real treat.
Next: St. Edmund (April 9, 3:45 p.m.)
6. Poly Prep (0-0) (6)
The Blue Devils get their regular season started in a big way this week with four straight games starting Wednesday: against Riverdale, McKee/Staten Island Tech, Trinity and at Holy Child. Poly is trying to win a fifth straight Ivy League title and NYSAISAA championship.
Next: Riverdale (April 7, 4:30 p.m.)
7. Moore Catholic (0-0) (7)
The Mavericks have shown they may still be a work in progress or still the inconsistant squad we saw a year ago. Moore played a one-run game with James Madison, but was easily handled by Tottenville. League play starts this week with games against St. Joseph Hill and Notre Dame.
Next: No. 9 St. Joseph Hill (April 6, 4 p.m.)
8. Cardozo (1-0) (9)
Before Cardozo can be counted among the city’s elite, it needs to take care of business in the PSAL. That starts with solid Brooklyn squad Bushwick in an interesting crossover game Friday. A win will propel the Judges and give them confidence going into tough games with their division rivals.
Next: @ Bushwick (April 9, 4 p.m.)
9. St. Joseph Hill (0-0) (10)
The Hilltoppers have a chance to open strong with two league games this week. It starts against last year’s CHSAA Archdiocesan runner-up Moore Catholic and then plays St. John Villa, a team it could be fighting with for the final playoff spot come May.
Next: No. 7 Moore Catholic (April 6, 4 p.m.)
10. Bishop Kearney (0-0) (NR)
The Tigers move into the NYC rankings for the first time this season on the strength of its split with Moore Catholic in a non-league tilt and St. Edmund’s loss to Mary Louis. Ace Tiffany Irrera will find out how her inexperienced teammates fair against some of the city’s best in the Preston tournament.
New: Bishop Kearney (1-0)
Dropped out: St. Edmund (0-1)
On the bubble: Mary Louis (1-0), St. Edmund (0-1), Bayside (1-0), Port Richmond (2-0), Preston (1-0), St. Francis Prep (0-0), Notre Dame Academy (0-0), Bryant (1-0), Bronx Science (2-0), Construction (1-0) and McKee/Staten Island Tech (2-0)