Regular-season baseball games will wrap up in Section 1 next week but some teams will play almost every day before then. The past week brought only a few surprises as teams are rounding into form for playoffs. Every team in last week’s top 10 rankings appears in this week’s top 10, although some have shifted positions.
Note: Records reflect games played through May 3.
1. Iona Prep (12-3) — Virtually every game, this team shows why it belongs atop the rankings. Flawless? No. But talented? Plenty. Last week, it threw a one-hitter at St. Peter’s, which had been undefeated in league play. Previously: 1
2. Tappan Zee (16-0) —The Dutchmen nearly suffered their first loss of the year but pulled out a 2-1 win in eight innings over Pearl River. Tappan Zee will finish out its regular season this week with four games. This team, which is the class of Class A, should win all four. Previously: 2
3. Ketcham (13-2) — After Ketcham fell to Arlington days after having beaten it, Ketcham regained its footing by winning four straight, including twice over John Jay-East Fishkill. Ketcham has two games this week and two the next. Previously: 3
4. Scarsdale (13-3) — The Raiders’ split with White Plains last week in two low-scoring games was somewhat of a surprise, but then they won their next two games. Weather cooperating, Scarsdale should finish its regular season with four games this week, the toughest likely against Ketcham. Previously: 4
5. Horace Greeley (12-3) — The Quakers have won two of their last three and four of their last five games, most notably winning the second of two games they played last week against Mahopac. Greeley doesn’t usually give up a lot of runs but gave up five and then seven against three-win Carmel last week, but pulled out one-run victories in both. And winning is the bottom line — getting the win. Previously: 6
6. Mahopac (9-5) — The Wolf Pac beat Lakeland, split with Horace Greeley and dropped a one-run game to Rye. Nothing is assured in baseball, but Mahopac has a good chance to win its final six regular-season games, which are scheduled for this week and early next week. Previously: 5
7. Mamaroneck (8-7) — The Tigers have just three losses to Section 1 teams and are in a position to potentially sweep their remaining five games. Previously 7
8. Rye (12-5) — After losing three straight, Rye won three straight games, including by a run over Mahopac. It has three games this week and could potentially sweep. Previously: 9
9. Clarkstown South (10-4) — After going 3-1 last week, the Vikings still have a ton of regular-season games to play. Few will be easy. This week, South will face John Jay-East Fishkill twice, as well as Tappan Zee and resurgent Fox Lane. Previously: 10
10. John Jay-East Fishkill (8-6) — The Patriots were shut out in their only two games last week. Not good. But both were losses to No. 3 Ketcham. John Jay will close out its regular season this week and next with two games each against Clarkstown South and North Rockland. Previously: 8
On the bubble: Arlington (9-6), Byram Hills (13-5), John Jay-Cross River (11-5), Pawling (10-4), Pelham (12-5), Pleasantville (13-5), Putnam Valley (10-5)
Nancy Haggerty covers sports for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Iona Prep tops baseball rankings as regular season winds down
Reporting by Nancy Haggerty, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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