Sports

POST GAMES TO WATCH: May 14-May 20

The Post’s high school staff looks ahead to the most intriguing matchups in boys basketball and girls basketball for the week of May 14 through May 20.

BASEBALL

Grand Street Campus @ James Madison (Monday, 4 p.m.)

Bragging rights, borough supremacy, the Brooklyn A East division title and playoff seeding – you name it, it’s on the line when these two teams meet up. Grand Street swept the series last year en route to the division crown, and it is the heavy favorite with arguably New York City’s best lineup. Madison, however, has one of PSAL’s top pitching staffs – co-aces Matt Zalon, Joe Cali and Mike Fitzpatrick are capable of shutting down the potent Wolves – and its lineup has become to produce consistently as well.

Beacon vs. Stuyvesant (Tuesday, 4 p.m. @ DeWitt Clinton Park)

Manhattan A West, at one time Beacon’s division to lose, is now a tossup between the Blue Demons and their rival, Stuyvesant. After consecutive losses to Norman Thomas and George Washington, the Hitmen have caught fire and won five straight behind the 1-2 punch of Kyle Yee and Evan Lubin. Beacon doesn’t have such aces to rely upon – Juan Adorno and Kai Glick are injured – as the two teams tied in the loss column meet to decide the division title this week.

Moore Catholic vs. St. Joseph by the Sea (Wednesday, 4 p.m. @ Richmond County Youth Complex)

The Staten Island division title could very well be decided here. St. Joseph by the Sea was hit with its first league loss of the season Friday night in extra innings against Monsignor Farrell, while Moore Catholic has just a single loss, too. The division champion gets the highly sought-after bye into the eight-team, championship round of the CHSAA Class AA playoffs.

CHSAA elimination games (Saturday, TBA @ Mount St. Michael)

It’s hard to believe the postseason begins Saturday, but two teams will go home that day and two others will advance on to the best-of-three series portion of the playoffs. Teams that played in these games have gone on to long runs in the past. Could one of these teams, which will be decided this week, make some waves after winning at Mount St. Michael?

NYSAISAA semifinals (Sunday, 11 a.m. @ higher seeds)

The end-of-the-year private school state tournament has produced a different champion each of the last three years. Last year’s winner, Poly Prep, should receive the top seed, but the Blue Devils won’t have an easy road as Ivy Prep League rival Fieldston beat them during the regular season, ACIS co-winners Berkeley Carroll and St. Ann’s are dangerous and Riverdale, also of the Ivy League, is playing the best baseball of anyone.

SOFTBALL

St. Francis Prep vs. Mary Louis (Monday, 3:45 p.m. @ Cunningham Park)

These two teams seem to meet almost every year in this spot with a berth in the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens final on the line. The Terriers won last year’s meeting, 10-3, but TMLA beat SFP in their last meeting of the regular season a few weeks ago. Will Nicole Lomangino be able to quiet the Hilltoppers bats or will Shannon Minihane and TMLA reach their first final since 2005?

Fieldston @ Horace Mann (Monday, 4:30 p.m.)

Fieldston has a chance to lock up at least a share of the Ivy League crown. All they have to do is win here and they’ll tie Poly Prep if the Blue Devils defeat Dalton on Monday. A high seed in the NYSAISAA tournament, which begins with play-in games Saturday, would also be guaranteed with a win here for Kate Miller and company.

Stuyvesant vs. Petrides, PSAL first round (Tuesday, 4 p.m. @ TBA)

Stuyvesant won its first PSAL Manhattan title under coach Vinny Miller and will now try to win his second playoff game in five years at the helm. Petrides, on the other hand, seems to have adjusted to new coach Victoria Kyle, taking over for Kim Caccese, who’s on maternity leave. Either team has a chance to make a mark in the postseason after winning here.

PSAL second round (Thursday, 4 p.m. @ higher seeds)

Just eight teams will be remaining in PSAL softball after Thursday, but who will it be? Tottenville seems to be assured a spot in the quarterfinals and Susan Wagner, James Madison and Construction round out the top four seeds in the playoffs. The Queens quartet of Cardozo, Bayside, Francis Lewis and Bryant all have a shot to be in the final eight as well.

CHSAA Archdiocesan semifinals (Sunday, TBA @ TBA)

Will this be the year we get two Bronx/Westchester teams in the semifinals? It certainly could be. Preston has been one of the city’s best teams all season and is a legit threat to win the crown and Cardinal Spellman is a veteran club that has learned how to win. CHSAA Staten Island division champion St. Joseph by the Sea and defending champ Moore Catholic are the favorites to meet again. Nothing is a given however.

LACROSSE

Archbishop Stepinac @ Iona Prep (Tuesday, 4 p.m.)

The two bitter rivals will take to the field in White Plains. Since moving down, the Crusaders have distinguished themselves as one of the top teams in NYCHSAA Class A. The Gaels on the other hand are one of the CHSAA’s best squads period. A win for Stepinac could send shockwaves through the league.

Beach Channel @ Benjamin Cardozo girls lacrosse, PSAL Class A quarterfinals (Tuesday, 4:30 p.m.)

The Judges took both regular-season meetings easily, but Beach Channel and coach Sam Innes cannot be taken lightly. His squad nearly beat top seed Tottenville late in the year and has won two of the last three city crowns. A win for Cardozo completes a year where it put itself amongst the league’s elite.

PSAL Class A & B city championships (Sunday, 10 a.m.)

The PSAL will crown four champions and they could come from two schools. Can James Madison win its second boys ‘B’ crown in the last four years? The Knights girls squad gives them a good chance at a double dip. Tottenville is trying to take home its second straight girls ‘A’ crown and its boys team will try to erase the memory of a loss in last year’s championship game. Rival New Dorp is expected to be on the other side.