The Post’s All-Manhattan baseball honors

Manhattan lives up to its baseball-rich reputation with one champion (Collegiate), a runner-up (Xavier) and another near miss (George Washington).

George Washington and Norman Thomas fought tooth and nail for the Manhattan A East crown, the Trojans taking back the crown by sweeping the season series. GW, however, was eliminated by Tottenville in the PSAL Class AA semifinals, but the season was nevertheless successful.

Shortstop Mike Antonio was taken by the Kansas City Royals in the third round of the First-Year Player Draft, the highest selection from the city in 14 years. Collegiate claimed its first New York State Association of Independent Schools Athletic Association (NYSAISAA) crown in five years, pulling off three upsets to claim the crown as the seventh seed.

In the CHSAA, Xavier went on a stunning run in the Class A intersectional playoffs as the No. 8 seed advanced to its first-ever appearance in the title game. In the ‘B,’ Rice enjoyed a stellar regular season, falling just short of its second consecutive appearance in the title game.

All-Manhattan baseball Player of the Year: P Chris Bates, Regis

Regis High School on the Upper East Side is known for its academics, for churning out Ivy League students, not Major League pitchers. That is, until Chris Bates came along. The lanky left-hander made history June 8 becoming the first player in school history to be selected in the First-Year Player Draft when the Milwaukee Brewers selected him in the 15th round.

Relatively unknown as a junior, Bates followed a strong summer with a dominant spring. The 6-foot-5 southpaw mixed up a knee-buckling curveball with a lively fastball and had unwavering control with a 9:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He won big games down the stretch for the Raiders, beating Xavier and St. Raymond, fanning 13 Ravens. If he chooses not to sign with the Brewers, Bates has a full ride to the University of Richmond.

All-Manhattan baseball Coach of the Year: Rich Duffell, Xavier

Great coaches don’t just win the big games, they also make the tough decisions. Rich Duffell did both. Before guiding Xavier to its first CHSAA Class A intersectional title game appearance as the No. 8 seed, the 20-year veteran benched his seniors before the opening game of the playoffs because they were late. He called on James McCool to pitch on last-second notice and sure enough the Knights won in the bottom of the seventh. That was the beginning of a spectacular postseason run that ended with a 3-1 loss to St. Joseph by the Sea.

All-Manhattan first team

SS Mike Antonio, George Washington

The city’s highest draft pick since Tottenville’s Jason Marquis in 1996, Antonio was taken by the Kansas City Royals in the third round (86th overall) of the First-Year Player Draft. The four-year starter batted .500 with 31 runs scored, 19 RBIs, and flashed a sure glove at shortstop, leading the Trojans to the PSAL Class AA semifinals.

P Nestor Bautista, George Washington

Thrust into a starring role because of a season-long injury to staff ace Yael Regalado, the Long Island University-bound Bautista shined in that spot. The 6-foot-3 left-hander went 2-0 during the regular season and also picked up two playoff wins, including a no-hitter against Francis Lewis in the second round when he struck out 16 and out-dueled All-Queens Player of the Year Jonathan Bobea.

P Josh Jacobvitz, Dalton

Dalton’s workhorse and one of the top right-handers in the Ivy League, Jacobvitz carried Dalton to the NYSAISAA quarterfinals after a slow start. The junior went 5-3 with a 0.96 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 67 innings. He also hit .362 with 18 RBIs and made his last three starts despite a badly sprained ankle that would’ve sidelines plenty of others.

SS Taiki Kasuga, Collegiate

A standout pitcher, productive leadoff man and silky-smooth shortstop, Kasuga did it all for Collegiate, the NYSAISAA champions, hitting .431 with 14 stolen bases, and 20 runs scored. He saves his best for last, creating havoc in the title game against Poly Prep by driving in a run and scoring twice. The Dutchmen will sorely miss the versatile captain.

P Rob Maguire, Xavier

Xavier always seems to churn out top-notch Division I pitchers and Maguire was the best of the bunch this year. The Sacred Heart-bound right-hander struggled in the first inning, but was a bulldog as the game went on. He outdueled St. Joseph by the Sea’s Nick Pavia in a classic nine-inning affair in the CHSAA Class A intersectional championship round in the first of what might be several meetings with both pitchers heading to the Northeast Conference.

OF Eugenio Mesa, Norman Thomas

One of the nice surprises to the Tigers’ season, Mesa emerged as the team’s reliable second-place hitter and sparkplug, scoring a team-high 23 runs, driving in 20 runs, and batting .514. All this after just nine at-bats last spring for the table-setting left fielder.

SS Alberto Morales, Norman Thomas

One of the city’s top shortstops, Morales leaves behind quite a legacy at Norman Thomas: four PSAL Class A quarterfinal appearances, two Manhattan A East crowns, and the Manhattan school’s first city title. The do-it-all senior batted .475 with 20 RBIs, 18 runs scored, and two home runs.

P/OF Nick DiLeo, Xavier

Xavier advanced to the CHSAA title game for the first time in its history and with DiLeo leading the returning players, it’s possible the Knights won’t have to wait too long for a return trip. The sophomore left-hander should be the ace of the staff next year. He’s already proven his big-game ability, coming within a strike of a no-hitter to beat St. Raymond in the semifinals and tossing a four-hitter vs. top-seeded Xaverian.

3B/P James McCool, Xavier

He doesn’t just have the best name in the city. James McCool is also a versatile standout of a Xavier team that fell just short of its first-ever CHSAA Class A intersectional title. The undisputed leader of the Knights, the hard-nosed third baseman has also stepped in as a spot starter, beating rival Fordham Prep in the postseason, all while batting in the middle of the Xavier order.

C Nelson Rodriguez, George Washington

On a team that included the highest draft pick from the city in 14 years (Antonio) and a Division I pitcher (Bautista), he may have been the team’s most valuable player. Armed with a canon for a right arm and power bat, this sophomore seemed destined to be the next pro out of the Washington Heights powerhouse.