The CHSAA season came to an end Friday night with Iona Prep holding up the trophy for the first time since 2003.
The Gaels gave retiring coach Fred Gallo one last hurrah in the form of his second intersectional title. The legendary head man finished with more than 500 wins, nine division titles, four Archdiocesan titles and a prodigious amount of players in college ball.
For the final rankings of a fun season, see below:
1. Poly Prep (20-4) (Last week: 1)
Bay Ridge is the capital of private school baseball in New York City. We don’t see that changing anytime soon, especially not next spring with Poly Prep returning top three pitchers Andrew Zapata, Phil Maldari and Morgan Gray. A seventh straight Ivy Prep League crown and third NYSAISAA title in a row are very possible next year.
Next: Season complete
2. Iona Prep (18-6) (2)
The Gaels sent legendary coach Fred Gallo out a winner, beating Fordham Prep, 9-2, on Friday night for the CHSAA Class AA intersectional title, the program’s first since 2003. Gallo announced a week earlier that he would be retiring after 30 years at the helm. He was inducted into the CHSAA Hall of Fame in 2003.
Next: Season complete
3. Fordham Prep (16-9) (3)
The Rams picked a bad time to put forth one of their worst performances of the season. Defensive mistakes – physical and mental – cost them runs early in the CHSAA Class AA intersectional finals against Iona Prep. It all added up to a 9-2 loss to Fordham’s biggest rival, a disappointing result for a team that enjoyed a great season.
Next: Season complete
4. St. Joseph by the Sea (17-6) (4)
Next year will be tough without Brian Russell and Chris Falcone, perhaps the best 1-2 punch in the CHSAA, at the top of the rotation. But sophomore left-hander Angelo Navetta showed something with a gem against eventual runner-up Fordham Prep in the playoffs. Sea, however, fell to Fordham with a chance to go to the finals Wednesday.
Next: Season complete
5. Archbishop Molloy (15-9) (5)
Jonathan Ramon will be hitting home runs at Evansville next year and Rosario DiLorenzo will be pitching at St. Joseph’s College. Look for right-handers Greg Boyle and Donovan Armas to lead a revamped Molloy squad next spring.
Next: Season complete
6. Xaverian (19-3) (6)
With Blaise Scerbo, John Pena, Brian Rosa and Tommy Anselmo all graduating, Xaverian is going to need a whole new pitching staff. Look for Anthony Amatuzzi to play a big part for the 2013 Clippers with his arm and Andrew Schillaci with his bat.
Next: Season complete
7. St. Raymond (14-7) (7)
This senior group did big things for St. Raymond, from bidding farewell to legendary coach Ron Patnosh two years ago to winning CHSAA Bronx/Manhattan this year. Sophomore right-hander/slugger Adam De La Cruz is the future of the program.
Next: Season complete
8. Fieldston (16-4) (8)
Junior Kevin Fich and Will Savage, such a big part of the program’s renaissance under coach Tony Marro, will be asked to carry the team next spring. The two are more than capable of furthering the Eagles’ recent success, which included a second-place finish in the Ivy Prep League and the school’s first NYSAISAA finals berth.
Next: Season complete
9. Moore Catholic (13-5) (9)
Shea Spitzbarth, John Baggs and Matt Kostalos will all graduate, which means Moore Catholic is going to have to hit the ball better next year. Good thing the Mavericks have Central Florida-bound basher Matt Diorio back in the fold.
Next: Season complete
10. All Hallows (11-10) (10)
Look out for All Hallows next year as a city title candidate again. The losses of Joe Morel and Lance Montano will be significant, but Tulane-bound star Stephen Alemais and right-hander/slugger Jason Reyes will be back with a vengeance.
Next: Season complete
New: None
Dropped out: None
On the bubble: St. Francis Prep (13-7), Monsignor Farrell (9-10), Holy Cross (11-10), Horace Mann (11-9), Cardinal Spellman (9-10), Berkeley Carroll (17-4), Bishop Ford (10-8) and St. Ann’s (10-7)