The road to the New York State softball championships in Binghamton begin May 22 with the first round of the Section 1 tournament.
This is what each of these players have worked hard for all year going all the way back to the preseason winter camps.
Section 1 has always run deep with talent and this year’s tournament is no different.
White Plains (AAA), Clarkstown South (AA), Albertus Magnus (A), Hastings (B), and Tuckahoe (C) were last year’s winners. Class AA is going to be a wild one now that the Vikings have moved back up to Class AAA.
Here’s a breakdown of the brackets along with some opinions and predictions:
Class AAA
Best early round matchup: No. 6 John Jay-East Fishkill at No. 3 Arlington
Unsung team nobody wants to play: No. 5 Ketcham
Best draw: No. 1 North Rockland
Worst draw: No. 8 Scarsdale
Teams capable of breaking the bracket: No. 5 Ketcham/No. 6 John Jay-East Fishkill
Best players: Tara Murphy, North Rockland; Alexis Tighe, White Plains
Last four standing: No. 1 North Rockland, No. 2 Clarkstown South, No. 4 White Plains, No. 6 John Jay-East Fishkill
And the winner is: This is interesting because the Section 1 finalists the last three years are all on the same side of the bracket, North Rockland, White Plains, and Ketcham. Then you have last year’s AA champ on the other side. White Plains is the defending champ, so it is hard to bet against, but North Rockland edged them out in the regular season.
Class AA
Best first round matchup: No. 10 Fox Lane at No. 7 Mahopac
Unsung team nobody wants to play: No. 6 Lakeland
Best draw: No. 2 Harrison
Worst draw: No. 4 Carmel
Team capable of breaking the bracket: No. 5 Ursuline
Best player: Ava Papaleo, Ursuline
Last four standing: No. 1 Eastchester, No. 2 Harrison, No. 3 Yorktown, No. 5 Ursuline.
And the winner is: It’s tough for a team to beat someone three times in one year and this one is set up for a Harrison vs. Eastchester rematch. Harrison has the experience of being in the finals the last two years but Eastchester has been the top dog all year long and I think this will finally be the year the Eagles take the title.
Class A
Best first round matchup: No. 12 Byram Hills at No. 5 John Jay-Cross River
Unsung team nobody wants to play: No. 6 Tappan Zee
Best draw: No. 1 Somers
Worst draw: No. 7 Albertus Magnus
Team capable of breaking the bracket: No. 5 John Jay-Cross River
Best players: Katie Cole, Somers; Haley Arvidson, Tappan ZeeLast four standing: No. 1 Somers, No. 2 Pearl River, No. 5 John Jay-Cross River, No. 6 Tappan Zee
And the winner is: Class A is still as much of a gauntlet as it ever was. When you look at the top seven teams in this class, any of them can make a case to win. Albertus Magnus may be the reigning champ but they have a tough draw to get to the finals. This will come down to Pearl River and Somers and the Pirates’ slap game is going to get them to the Section 1 title.
Class B
Best early round matchup: No. 5 Hastings at No. 4 Rye Neck
Unsung team nobody wants to play: No. 3 Putnam Valley
Best draw: No. 2 Haldane
Worst draw: No. 4 Rye Neck
Team capable of breaking the bracket: No. 5 Hastings
Best players: Allegra Clementson, Haldane; Siri Rosenberg, HastingsLast four standing: No. 1 Dobbs Ferry, No. 2 Haldane, No. 3 Putnam Valley, No. 5 Hastings
And the winner is: Hastings is the defending champion and after what happened in regionals, they went out there and really tested themselves to be ready for this time of the year. Don’t let them being the fifth-seed fool you. This team is primed to repeat.
Class C
There are only three teams in this bracket
Best player: Katie Attwood, Tuckahoe
Last two standing: No. 1 Tuckahoe, No. 3 North Salem.
And the winner is: Tuckahoe has been the top team in Class C all year and this core group is looking to finish the job from a year ago where they finished as the state runner up.
Twitter: @LoHud_Debbie; @LoHudSoftball
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Breaking down the 2026 Section 1 softball tournament. Who’s the best?
Reporting by Debbie Schechter, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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