PSAL baseball rankings
It may be cold and rainy, but April is here and it’s time to play baseball. The PSAL is stacked with favorites, contenders and challengers, from defending champion Tottenville to usual power brokers George Washington and Monroe to up-and-comers Grand Street Campus and John F. Kennedy.
Read all about in The Post’s first PSAL baseball rankings of the spring below:
1. Tottenville (2-0)
The lineup is loaded, the pitching staff is deep and the roster is full of championship experience. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? The core of catcher Kevin Krause, third baseman Tom Kain, shortstop Gil Mendoza and designated hitter George Kantzian are all back to inflict damage on the rest of the city.
Next: @ New Dorp (Apr. 1, 4 p.m.)
2. George Washington (1-0)
Steve Mandl, the program’s architect who is looking to get his job back through litigation, may not be around, but the Trojans are typically deep and talented across the board. Ace right-hander Yael Regalado is healthy after missing most of last year with elbow problems, catcher Nelson Rodriguez is one of the city’s top prospects and All Hallows transfer Alexis Torres adds speed and pop to a dangerous lineup.
Next: Gregorio Luperon (Apr. 4, 4 p.m.)
3. James Monroe (1-0)
Mike Turo has compared his eight underclassmen to the group in 2003 headed by Danny Almonte that reached the PSAL Class A final. The group, which includes sophomore hurdler Ricardo Parra, infielder/pitcher Dariel Checo, a freshman, and Inoel Nuenz, another first-year player, is talented, but we’re more excited to see senior flamethrower Jordan Frair, the Rice transfer who will hit in the middle of the order.
Next: Taft (Apr. 1, 4 p.m.)
4. Grand Street Campus (1-0)
Scouts love center fielder Williams Jerez because of his speed, strength and versatility; we’re more smitten with shortstop Jose Cuas, the junior coach Melvin Martinez says is his team’s Derek Jeter. Still, they to this team will be pitching and whether or not Wily Santana and Xaverian transfer Gerald Gonzalez can beat the city’s big boys.
Next: Bushwick Campus (Apr. 5, 4 p.m.)
5. James Madison (0-0)
With Grand Street being moved into Brooklyn A East, the division title isn’t Madison’s birthright anymore. The Knights are extremely young – coach Vinny Caiazza is counting on four freshman to either start or give him innings on the mound – and untested after graduating standouts Joe Calascione, Eddie Lenahan and Matt Ecock. That doesn’t mean Madison won’t be successful. Juniors Mike Fitzpatrick, Joe Cali and Xaverian transfer Chris Vasquez form what could be one the top rotations in the PSAL.
Next: Brooklyn Tech (Apr. 5, 4 p.m.)
6. John F. Kennedy (1-0)
Alex Torres is conservative by nature, so when he says his Kennedy team “will be tough this year,” that’s coach speak for look out for the Knights. There may not be a better all-around player in the PSAL than center fielder Peter Taveras, a power hitter with speed to burn. Freshmen power pitchers Edwin Ozuna and Mohamed Camara could emerge as integral assets as well.
Next: Columbus (Apr. 1, 4 p.m.)
7. Lehman (1-0)
Andy Ramos is now Lehman’s leader – its catcher and third-place hitter – after ceding the spotlight to seniors last spring. He will be paramount to Lehman replicating last year’s magical run to the title game, as will ace Dymin Morillo, shortstop Jhosse Estrella and center fielder Angel Zapata.
Next: Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy (Apr. 4, 4 p.m.)
8. Norman Thomas (0-1)
Nerva Jean Pierre says this is the year the city finds out if he can really coach. His program is devoid of blue-chip talent and experience, which makes this an interesting season for the Tigers, who we think will still be a factor once late May hits. Shortstop Starling Valera may be a star by then, or at least one in the making.
Next: Manhattan Center (Apr. 4, 4 p.m.)
9. DeWitt Clinton (0-1)
Wednesday’s 11-0 loss to Morris certainly wasn’t the way the Governors wanted to start the year. They didn’t hit or pitch particulalry well, though we don’t expect many more performances like that from Clinton, which has a wealth of pitching and speed up and down the lineup.
Next: Morris (Apr. 1, 4 p.m.)
10. Cardozo (1-0)
Sophomore Adrian Castano is one of the PSAL’s top underclassmen hurlers; he’s also quite adept with a bat, as his five RBIs and three hits in the Judges’ season-opening 14-6 victory over Bayside showed. Senior Chris Estrada picked up the victory, going six innings.
Next: Thomas Edison (Apr. 5, 4 p.m.)
New: None
Dropped out: None
On the bubble: Beacon (1-0), Fort Hamilton (1-0), John Adams (1-0), Long Island City (0-1), Manhattan Center (1-0), McKee/Staten Island Tech (3-0), Morris (1-0) and New Dorp (4-0)
