No. 7 Grand Street Campus and shortstop Jose Cuas will take on second-seeded George Washington. (Damion Reid)
The Post’s PSAL baseball beat writer, Zach Braziller, breaks down Tuesday’s Class A quarterfinal matchups at neutral sites.
SCHEDULE
Tuesday
3:30 p.m. — No. 1 James Monroe vs. No. 8 Lehman @ DeWitt Clinton
3:30 p.m. — No. 2 George Washington vs. No. 7 Grand Street Campus @ Old Boys High Field
3:30 p.m. — No. 3 Tottenville vs. No. 6 Morris @ Lafayette
3:30 p.m. — No. 4 James Madison vs. No. 5 Norman Thomas @ Grand Street Campus
No. 1 James Monroe Eagles
Head coach: Mike Turo
Record: 18-0, Bronx A East
Player to watch: SS Wander Almonte
No. 8 Lehman Eagles
Head coach: Adam Droz
Record: 15-3, Bronx A West
Player to watch: P/1B Tyler Gurman
Outlook: There is no introduction needed for these clubs. Although they are in different divisions, The Bronx schools are fierce rivals. Monroe has won the last three meetings, including a one-run victory in the second round last year, and a win in the Monroe Tournament final this April.
Lehman did knock off the Eagles the previous two seasons in league play and the Lions posses a potent lineup, led by Gurman and catcher Andy Ramos, who drove in 27 runs during the regular season.
Monroe’s lineup doesn’t take a back seat to anyone. After a year adjusting to New York City from the Dominican Republic, Almonte has become one of the city’s top positions players, a rock at shortstop and power hitter in the middle of the Eagles’ order. Third baseman Cruz Resto got eligible and has produced, along with draftable centerfielder Melvin Garica, a whiz in the outfield and dynamic threat out of the two-hole.
Mike Turo will likely go with Jesus Vasquez on the mound, one of his two aces. The senior is a durable big-game pitcher who beat Lehman in the Monroe Tournament. He took the loss in last year’s city final, but was nevertheless solid.
No. 2 George Washington Trojans
Head coach: Steve Mandl
Record: 18-0, Manhattan A East
Player to watch: SS Mike Antonio
No. 7 Grand Street Campus Wolves
Head coach: Melvin Martinez
Record: 18-0, Queens A West
Player to watch: P Jose Zuniga
Outlook: The key to taming the Trojans’ mighty lineup is containing the middle of their order. Antonio, catcher Nelson Rodriguez and first baseman Jordan Polanco make up arguably the most devastating 3-4-5 in the PSAL, but the lineup isn’t as devastating at the tail-end as in years past.
That will be the key for Zuniga, Grand Street’s hard-throwing senior ace. He enjoyed a remarkable regular season – 7-0, 0.16 ERA, and 75 strikeouts in 45 innings pitched – but didn’t see a batting order quite the ilk of George Washington. The Wolves’ youth will also be tested. They count on freshmen outfielders Williams Jerez and Basael McDonald in addition to sophomore shortstop Cuas, all of whom may be pro prospects down the road. All three will need to be productive for Grand Street to pull off the upset.
No. 3 Tottenville Pirates
Head coach: Tom Tierney Jr.
Record: 19-1, Staten Island A
Player to watch: CF Zach Granite
No. 6 Morris Bulldogs
Head coach: Rich Corbo
Record: 16-2, Bronx A East
Player to watch: P/SS Arismendy Nunez
Outlook: Tottenville has its tradition of 26 straight Staten Island A league crowns and its city championships. This is just Morris’ second year in ‘A.’ But don’t let those differences fool you; this is an extremely close matchup, the third time the two foes have seen each other dating back to last postseason. Tottenville bested Morris, 6-1, in the second round last year, and topped them, 3-1, in the Monroe Tournament, too.
The Pirates have arguably the deepest lineup in the city and an ace in John Silva to match. Morris has its own hard-thrower in Nunez and a scrappy bunch of hitters such as third baseman Raiky Ortiz, catcher Smailiz Feliz and centerfielder Yoan Delarosa.
No. 4 James Madison Knights
Head coach: Vinny Caiazza
Record: 18-0, Brooklyn A West
Player to watch: CF Joe Calascione
No. 5 Norman Thomas
Head coach: Nerva Jean Pierre
Record: 16-2, Manhattan A East
Player to watch: SS Alberto Morales
Outlook: The two sides couldn’t be more different, from the starting pitchers – the Tigers’ hard-throwing ace Isaac Reynoso to Madison’s Eddie Lenahan, a control specialist – to the two coaches, even-keeled Vinny Caiazza of Madison, and eccentric Nerva Jean Pierre of Norman Thomas. They also create runs differently. Madison manufactures them while Thomas likes to rely on extra-base hits.
Either way, it ought to be a thriller. Norman Thomas needed to score three runs to knock off No. 28 Newtown, 6-5, in the opening round while Madison has won each of its contests by a single run and was one strike away from elimination against No. 13 John Adams.
