The draw is out and the PSAL playoffs begin Tuesday with the first round. It has been a year of parity and that should only continue in the postseason. High seeds will fall – some of them early – and there will be at least one Cinderella.
Tottenville looks like the immovable force, but beyond the Pirates everyone seems to have some vulnerability. The fluidity of the bottom half of these rankings all year will attest to that.
Here’s how things look before the start of the postseason:
1. Tottenville (16-0) (Last week: 1)
Another year, another undefeated regular season for Tottenville. The Pirates waltzed past the competition once again as the playoffs start this week. When will coach Cathy Morano’s team get challenged? It might not come until the semifinals when it sees Francis Lewis or Susan Wagner. Either way, the girls in purple will be very difficult to beat.
Next: Bronx Science, PSAL Class A first round (May 17, 4 p.m.)
2. James Madison (14-1) (2)
It won’t be an easy road for Madison in the playoffs. The Knights could see Petrides, a team seeded far lower than it should be, in the second round and then a team like Environmental Studies or InTech Academy in the quarterfinals. Madison’s bats have come alive of late, though, and having Kayla Hill in the circle certainly can’t hurt.
Next: CSI/McCown, PSAL Class A first round (May 17, 4 p.m.)
3. Construction (12-1) (3)
If Construction wants to make its first quarterfinals as a Class A program, it’ll likely have to get by Port Richmond in the second round. The Red Hawks and Red Raiders should provide an interesting matchup – and not just because of their team colors. Port Richmond is far better than the seed it was given and could be a handful for Construction.
Next: Curtis, PSAL Class A first round (May 17, 3:30 p.m. @ Smokey Oval Park)
4. Susan Wagner (14-3) (5)
The Falcons have taken care of business all year against the teams they were supposed to beat. If they do that in the playoffs, they could face a very interesting matchup with Francis Lewis in the quarterfinals. A team like Bayside or Stevenson will not be an easy draw in the second round, though. An argument could have been made for Wagner being the four-seed instead of the five.
Next: Lincoln, PSAL Class A first round (May 17, 4 p.m.)
5. Francis Lewis (12-1) (4)
The Patriots came so close to finishing with an undefeated regular season, but could not put the hammer down on Bayside last Thursday in their last Queens A-I game. Lewis still earned the No. 4 seed in the playoffs, though, if not that spot in these rankings due to the loss. Coach Bryan Brown’s squad is still a little offensively challenged, but it can get by on pitching and defense.
Next: Midwood, PSAL Class A first round (May 17, 4 p.m.)
6. Clinton (11-2) (8)
Look out for Clinton. The Governors, led by ace Tayna Pena and third baseman Marigold Yin, are one of the hottest teams in the PSAL. They finished their league season on an eight-game winning streak and own non-league victories over Francis Lewis and Bryant. This could be coach Rich Eaton’s best chance yet to break through to the semifinals as the No. 6 seed.
Next: Hunter College HS, PSAL Class A first round (May 17, 4 p.m.)
7. McKee/S.I. Tech (12-5) (7)
The Seagulls closed out the regular season with a big victory over InTech Academy on Thursday. Freshman pitcher Blayse Halvorsen has been just what MSIT needed and hitters like Arianna Kee and Sophia Palumbo have continuously come through. Coach Jessica Ragucci’s team is looking at a No. 8 seed in the playoffs.
Next: Richmond Hill, PSAL Class A first round (May 17, 4 p.m.)
8. Bryant (10-3) (9)
Coach Wally Hausdorf thought a good showing against Construction last Monday would raise his team’s stock for seeding. Bryant stayed close in that game for awhile, but ultimately succumbed in a run-rule loss. It didn’t end up hurting the Owls much, though they won’t get a home game in the second round with a No. 9 seed.
Next: Lehman, PSAL Class A first round (May 17, 4 p.m.)
9. Cardozo (10-3) (10)
The bad news for Cardozo is that it didn’t get a top-10 seed in the PSAL Class A playoffs. The good news is that the Judges are 11th and stay out of Tottenville’s bracket. They will be underdogs in potential playoff games with Clinton and Construction, but anyone would rather see them than the powerhouse Pirates.
Next: Fort Hamilton, PSAL Class A first round (May 17, 4 p.m.)
10. Environmental Studies (11-4) (NR)
The Eagles were stunned by a Staten Island team last season (Petrides in the second round) and will try to avoid the same fate in the first round Tuesday against New Dorp. Environmental Studies had some tough losses to teams like Manhattan Center and George Washington, but have put together a strong stretch run. Can it continue in the playoffs?
Next: New Dorp (May 17, 4 p.m.)
New: Environmental Studies (11-4)
Dropped out: InTech Academy (9-4)
On the bubble: Bayside (8-5), Petrides (10-7), InTech Academy (9-4), Port Richmond (9-8), Newtown (8-5), Bushwick (11-4) and Telecom (17-0)