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NYC baseball rankings: Lehman roars into top 10
By FiveBoroSports.com April 19, 2009
With the end of Spring Break, classes resume. That means it’s time to get back to business. But it’s not that the area’s high school baseball teams took it easy, whether it was the CHSAA teams going at it during the first week of the regular season or the PSAL’s best doing battle in three holiday tournaments.
As a result, there are big changes in the FiveBoroSports New York City baseball rankings this week. There is a new No. 1 (Xaverian) and new No. 2 (St. Francis Prep). Moore Catholic, Mount St. Michael and John F. Kennedy were bounced while Norman Thomas, fresh off its victory over George Washington, re-enters and Lehman, which won the Monroe Holiday Tournament, makes its first appearance.
It’s all here in a revamped top 10:
1. Xaverian (1-0) (Last week: 2)
After catching some rays and facing elite competition at the Jesuit Easter Baseball Tournament in Tampa, Fla., it’s back to defending their CHSAA Class A intersectional title for the Clippers. They don’t get an easy one off the bat – Queens power Archbishop Molloy followed by No. 2 St. Francis Prep on Tuesday.
Next: April 20 vs. Archbishop Molloy
2. St. Francis Prep (2-0) (5)
The Terriers couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season – a come-from-behind victory over rival Archbishop Molloy followed by an 11-0 waxing of Bishop Ford. By all indications, this looks like a typically tough St. Francis Prep squad, deep in the rotation and armed with a lethal lineup.
Next: April 20 @ Holy Cross
3. George Washington (5-0) (1)
The Trojans finally lost a game this week, falling to No. 5 Norman Thomas and Mariel Checo, the flame-throwing right-hander in their tournament final. The lack of offense shouldn’t concern Steve Mandl – few will do much against the draftable senior. The five errors GW committed, however, should bother the coach. That is what will kill his team come playoff time.
Next: April 20 vs. Stuyvesant
4. Norman Thomas (6-0) (NR)
If you haven’t seen Checo, make sure you do before the season is up. He doesn’t just have professional stuff – a low-to-mid 90s fastball to pair with a devastating, late-breaking off-speed pitch – he is poised and mature on the mound. He didn’t have his best control against George Washington on Thursday, yet the senior never lost his composure.
Next: April 20 @ Environmental Studies
5. Monroe (5-0) (3)
How concerned should Mike Turo be after the Eagles failed to win a sixth consecutive Monroe Holiday Tournament crown? We should know this week. Monroe has quite a rough couple of days – Monday against Jane Addams and ace Jimmy Bermudez, followed by a meeting Wednesday with Gompers and one of their tough lefties. Turo’s kids didn’t do much hitting in the last few days of the tournament. Facing these kind of arms could extend the slump.
Next: April 20 vs. Jane Addams
6. Tottenville (4-0) (7)
That 10-day layoff sure didn’t seem to bother the Pirates’ pitching staff, which was back at it again Saturday, holding Port Richmond, fresh off an upset of Brooklyn power Madison in the Telecommunications Baseball Tournament, to a single run on three hits. Tottenville may not be scoring a ton of runs thus far, but they have allowed an average of less than one per game.
Next: April 20 @ New Dorp
7. Fordham Prep (2-0) (9)
Fordham Prep also played some tough competition at the Jesuit Easter Baseball Tournament and the Rams’ deep pitching staff will be put the test this week with three games in four days against Xavier, Iona and Spellman.
Next: April 21 @ Xavier
8. Telecommunications (5-0) (8)
The jury is still out on how good the Yellow Jackets really are. Sure, they went 4-0 in their tournament, beating Midwood and McKee/Staten Island, but that much-hyped showdown with Madison never materialized. The waiting ends Thursday. We’ll be there – extra early.
Next: April 21 @ Canarsie
9. St. Peter’s (2-0) (NR)
If the early part of the season is a preview into the rest of the season, the Eagles are going to be tough to beat. Their supposed weakness – pitching – has been a strength, allowing just one run in two league victories over Iona Prep and Cardinal Spellman.
Next: April 21 @ Moore Catholic
10. Lehman (4-1) (NR)
Winning the prestigious Monroe Holiday Tournament, Adam Droz, Lehman’s intense coach, even cracked a smile while hoisting the trophy. Of course, the Lions gave him plenty of reasons to be happy, from ace Laurence Marsach picking up wins back-to-back days with 11 incredible innings or catcher Randy Adames tossing a brilliant complete-game after squatting behind the plate for the first five games of the tournament.
Next: April 20 @ South Bronx
New: Lehman (4-1), Norman Thomas (6-0) and St. Peter’s (2-0)
Dropped out: Moore Catholic (1-2), Mount St. Michael (2-2) and John F. Kennedy (4-1)
On the bubble: Archbishop Molloy (2-1), Mount St. Michael (2-2), Moore Catholic (1-2), Regis (3-1), John F. Kennedy (4-1), Walton (4-1), Grand St. Campus (5-0), James Madison (4-1), John Adams (5-0), Stuyvesant (4-0), Beacon (4-1) and William Bryant (5-1)
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That 10-day layoff sure didn’t seem to bother the Pirates’ pitching staff, which was back at it again Saturday, holding Port Richmond, fresh off an upset of Brooklyn power Madison in the Telecommunications Baseball Tournament, to a single run on three hits. Tottenville may not be scoring a ton of runs thus far, but they have allowed an average of less than one per game.
Next: April 20 @ New Dorp
7. Fordham Prep (2-0) (9)
Fordham Prep also played some tough competition at the Jesuit Easter Baseball Tournament and the Rams’ deep pitching staff will be put the test this week with three games in four days against Xavier, Iona and Spellman.
Next: April 21 @ Xavier
8. Telecommunications (5-0) (8)
The jury is still out on how good the Yellow Jackets really are. Sure, they went 4-0 in their tournament, beating Midwood and McKee/Staten Island, but that much-hyped showdown with Madison never materialized. The waiting ends Thursday. We’ll be there – extra early.
Next: April 21 @ Canarsie
9. St. Peter’s (2-0) (NR)
If the early part of the season is a preview into the rest of the season, the Eagles are going to be tough to beat. Their supposed weakness – pitching – has been a strength, allowing just one run in two league victories over Iona Prep and Cardinal Spellman.
Next: April 21 @ Moore Catholic
10. Lehman (4-1) (NR)
Winning the prestigious Monroe Holiday Tournament, Adam Droz, Lehman’s intense coach, even cracked a smile while hoisting the trophy. Of course, the Lions gave him plenty of reasons to be happy, from ace Laurence Marsach picking up wins back-to-back days with 11 incredible innings or catcher Randy Adames tossing a brilliant complete-game after squatting behind the plate for the first five games of the tournament.
Next: April 20 @ South Bronx
New: Lehman (4-1), Norman Thomas (6-0) and St. Peter’s (2-0)
Dropped out: Moore Catholic (1-2), Mount St. Michael (2-2) and John F. Kennedy (4-1)
On the bubble: Archbishop Molloy (2-1), Mount St. Michael (2-2), Moore Catholic (1-2), Regis (3-1), John F. Kennedy (4-1), Walton (4-1), Grand St. Campus (5-0), James Madison (4-1), John Adams (5-0), Stuyvesant (4-0), Beacon (4-1) and William Bryant (5-1)
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