The 2026 high school baseball season is in full swing with almost all teams having at least one game under their belts.
Below are the first rankings of the season, which are based largely on these early results, as well as last season’s finishes.
Note: Records reflect games played through April 5.
1. Ketcham (2-0) — Ketcham has been waving big lumber early on, plating 17 runners over their initial two games, including 10 vs. last year’s state Class A semifinalist, Rye. While the Storm’s pitching hasn’t been flawless (10 runs allowed), if it keeps hitting the way it has, that may not be of paramount importance.
2. Mahopac (3-0) — Since it’s so early, much can change. But the Wolf Pac’s start against a mixed-bag of teams is nonetheless impressive. The early-season question surrounding this team is whether its offense or its defense/pitching has been more impressive. Mahopac, which finished last year ranked No. 5 locally, outscored its first three opponents 24-1. Included was 8-0 over Putnam Valley, which came within a run of claiming the state Class B crown.
3. Iona Prep (1-1) —The Gaels may have lost 2025 back-to-back-no-hitters, superstar hurler Shane Jelenevsky, last year’s Westchester/Putnam Pitcher of the Year and a likely early MLB draft choice, to a move to Georgia, but anyone who has even a thimble’s worth of knowledge about Gaels baseball knows the talent always runs deep. Whether last year’s state CHSAA champion is good enough for a repeat isn’t clear yet. But Iona Prep still returns a lot of talent.
4. Tappan Zee (5-0) — The Dutchmen might have been basically a .500 team last year, but five games into this season and last year seems like it’s in the distant past. TZ has won big and small — winning each of three low-scoring games by just one run and romping in its two other wins. Its victories include two over teams that finished last season ranked in the top 10 and one just outside that. The one constant has been very good pitching. If that continues, so should TZ’s success.
5. Mamaroneck (1-2) — The Tigers opened their season in the Florida sunshine, facing out-of-state teams. There’s not a lot that can be deduced from those results.. But one conclusion can be drawn from past history: The Tigers will be a force this season. Among those back is Westchester/Putnam Player of the Year Luke Reagins and first team infielder Will Plunkett, both college baseball commits.
6. Putnam Valley (2-1) —The Tigers, who finished just outside the top 10 last year, edged Horace Greeley and last year’s No. 9 team, Panas, but were also blown out by Mahopac. It’s hard to read much into most blowout wins and losses because, in baseball, a pitcher or fielders having an unusual off day can be a mere blip.
7. Horace Greeley (3-1) — A lot more will be known about this team in the coming days because its week is jam-packed with games. But it’s largely so far, so good. The Quakers opened with an impressive one-run win over Fox Lane, which finished 2025 ranked third. It fell by a run to Putnam Valley but then won in two routs.
8. Nanuet (3-1) — Time will tell but Nanuet, which had a very nice season last year, is off to another good start. Expect the Golden Knights to be tested this week as they take on Suffern, John Jay-Cross River and Panas — teams that may not be off to awesome starts but could prove to be very good.
9. Fox Lane (0-1) — Yes, Fox Lane opened with a 4-3 loss to Greeley. But last year’s team fell to the Quakers early in the season 3-0 before beating Greeley weeks later. That team ended up going all the way to the state Class AA championship game, where it fell by a run in extra innings. So, don’t read too much into March and early April scores. That said, while the Foxes should have a good season, they graduated some talent, so a return climb to states might be difficult.
10. Pleasantville (5-0) — Strength of schedule may end up costing this team in the rankings but it is off to a fine start with solid pitching and strong hitting. Unfortunately, it won’t be until the playoffs — if then — that the Panthers play fellow Class A team TZ.
On the bubble: Arlington (1-0), Nanuet (3-1), John Jay-East Fishkill (0-0), Port Chester (3-0), Putnam Valley (2-1), Rye (1-2), Scarsdale (0-1)
Nancy Haggerty covers sports for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: See what top teams are in the first baseball rankings of the season
Reporting by Nancy Haggerty, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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