The Post’s top 10 PSAL baseball rankings can be easily broken into two brackets. The top five hasn’t changed in two weeks and doesn’t seem like it will anytime soon. The bottom half? Well, that’s another story.
John Adams, Beacon and William Bryant are out, replaced by red-hot Norman Thomas, undefeated Cardozo and on-a-roll John F. Kennedy.
Below is a more detailed synopsis of the top five which went undefeated and the wild shuffling of the bottom five.
1. Grand Street Campus (11-0) (Last week: 1)
It’s partly an indictment of Brooklyn A East, but also a nod to Grand Street’s lethal lineup that it has amassed 152 runs – yes, 152, that’s not a typo – in 11 league contests, all owins. Nobody in the city – let alone the PSAL – can match Grand Street’s power, speed and depth. Center fielder Williams Jerez, the best prospect in the five boroughs, and shortstop Jose Cuas are the obvious superstars, but speedy second baseman Basael McDonald and productive catcher Ernesto Lopez are right up there among the area’s best at their respective positions, too.
Next: @ Midwood (May 9, 4 p.m.)
2. George Washington (11-0) (2)
The Trojans have put themselves in a position to win their division for the 28th time in 29 years and receive the top seed in the PSAL Class A playoffs. But neither will be easy. This week is a home-and-home with bitter rival Manhattan Center, which is just two games behind George Washington. Next week is an even bigger test: Perennial power Norman Thomas, which is as hot as anyone in the city after a slow start. This is where interim coach Nick Carbone and his loaded Trojans are put to the test.
Next: @ Manhattan Center (May 9, 4:30 p.m.)
3. James Monroe (8-1) (3)
Monroe didn’t have any problems this past week, knocking off Morris and Evander Childs, though it did manage just eight runs in the two wins, a low number for coach Mike Turo’s club. They did lose catcher Joamy Dominguez to a broken angle and shortstop Luis Santini was thrown off the team for disciplinary reasons. The losses are certainly worth monitoring.
Next: @ Walton (May 5, 10 p.m.)
4. Lehman (7-1) (8)
Of our entire top 10, Lehman is the oddest collection of talent. There are no All-City candidates, not even a shutdown pitcher, just a group of hard-nosed, smart and fundamentally sound grinders in the mold of intense coach, Adam Droz. Lehman, led by southpaw Dymin Morillo and experienced seniors Andy Ramos, Jhosse Estrella and Angel Zapata, was overlooked at this time last year, but we won’t make that mistake again. The rest of the city shouldn’t either.
Next: @ Gompers (May 10, 4 p.m.)
5. Tottenville (11-0) (9)
The defending city champions have bounced back from adversity in a major way, winning five straight league games after consecutive losses in the Monroe Tournament to No. 1 Grand Street Campus and fourth-ranked Lehman. Particularly encouraging has been the lineup’s production — it has averaged 12 runs per game in the streak while limiting the opposition to two runs or less in each win.
Next: Susan Wagner (May 9, 4 p.m.)
6. Cardozo (10-0) (NR)
We were skeptical why Cardozo coach Ron Gorecki went with his third starter Calvin Luk for Friday’s showdown of Queens division leaders against John Adams. The junior right-hander made Gorecki look like a genius, however, tossing four solid innings for his second league win as the Judges routed the Spartans, 8-1, to stake claim as the borough’s elite.
Next: @ Forest Hills (May 9, 4:30 p.m.)
7. South Bronx (7-3) (6)
There may not be a better opposite-field hitting team in the PSAL than South Bronx. The Phoenix, of course, almost has to when you consider the right-field wall at their home field is a mere 200 feet away. Add in the comfort ace Genesis Milian has on the field, no wonder South Bronx has lost just once at home and has beaten borough powers Monroe, Walton and DeWitt Clinton at that bandbox.
Next: Morris (May 10, 4 p.m.)
8. Norman Thomas (9-2) (NR)
The Tigers eight-game winning streak began before coach Nerva Jean Pierre announced he would be retiring at season’s end, but the fact that it has continued isn’t coincidence. Jean Pierre’s kids love playing for him and this young group obviously has even more to play for now. Remarkably, after a 1-2 start, Norman Thomas can still win Manhattan A East outright, though it will have to sweep second-ranked George Washington to do so.
Next: @ Brandeis (May 9, 4 p.m.)
9. Telecommunications (8-3) (10)
There seems to be a script around Telecom in recent years. Longtime coach Ed D’Alessio starts the year saying his team down, that he isn’t even sure who will play and where. True to his word, the Yellow Jackets start off slow. But they get it together as their underclassmen find their way. By mid-May, they are somehow at the top of Brooklyn A West, unlikely division winners. Trailing division leader Fort Hamilton by just a single game with two weeks to go, is anyone doubting this ending? We sure aren’t. Look for the black and gold of catcher Jason Galeano, outfielder Michael Tejada and ace Chris Lee to claim another crown.
Next: @ Lincoln (May 9, 4 p.m.)
10. John F. Kennedy (7-3) (NR)
On April 14, Kennedy’s rocky season came to a head. The Knights didn’t just lose their third straight, it was run-ruled, 14-1, by Bronx A East leader James Monroe. Since that lopsided defeat, Kennedy has become the team coach Alex Torres expected in March, winners of four straight. They have hit big and pitched bigger and are remarkably in position to still win Bronx A West if it can sweep longtime rival Lehman next week.
Next: @ Evander Childs (May 10, 4 p.m.)
New: Cardozo (10-0), John F. Kennedy (7-3) and Norman Thomas (9-2)
Dropped out: Beacon (7-4), John Adams (10-1) and William Bryant (8-1)
On the bubble: Beacon (7-4), Curtis (6-6), DeWitt Clinton (7-3), Fort Hamilton (9-2), James Madison (8-1), John Adams (10-1), Manhattan Center (9-2), McKee/Staten Island Tech (8-4), Stuyvesant (6-5), and William Bryant (8-1)