NCN Girls’ Basketball/Baseball Blog

All opening round games are slated for Saturday with 11 a.m. and 1.p.m. starts. Ossining and New Rochelle take part in the only out-bracket game on Friday at Ossining. Without further ado, let’s get to the predictions for the North County contests.

Class AA

Winner of No. 16 Ossining/No. 17 New Rochelle  at Mamaroneck

Ossining has achieved its goal of making sectionals and getting the squad back on the map. Coach Bill Casey has done quite a job, but if they get past New Ro’, the road ends against the state champs.

Prediction: Mamaroneck 16, Ossining 2

No. 12 Yorktown at No. 5 Saunders

Yorktown had to get the luckiest first round draw, as the five league champs get the 1-5 seeds regardless of record, hence Saunders lands a No. 5 seed after dominating a weak Yonkers league. The Huskers take advantage.

Prediction: Yorktown 7, Saunders 5

No. 9 Suffern at No. 8 John Jay

A rematch of last season’s semifinals in the first round? John Jay really got an unlucky draw. If they somehow get through this game, they’ve got Mamaroneck in the next round. Ouch. Could be Suffern ace Robbie Aviles against….Stephen Green? Is he healthy? He’ll need to be for the Indians to make a game of it — but I think Suffern takes it either way.

Prediction: Suffern 7, John Jay 3

No. 7 Carmel vs. No. 10 Horace Greeley

I think Carmel should roll here fairly easily to set up a date with League I-C foe Arlington. Will they save Mike Volpe for Arlington? I’d say it would be a wise decision. Zack Graczyk should be able to handle the Quakers.

Prediction: Carmel 8, Horace Greeley 3

Class A

No. 14 Tappan Zee at No. 3 Hen Hud

Hendrick Hudson won’t have Mike Tandy pitching and I’m guessing Chris Weiner gets the call. Still, the Sailors should be able to pull this out even without its ace. T.J. Olesczuk (leads the section in homers (9) and RBI (39) and Matt DeSilva stay hot at the plate and Hen Hud moves on.

Prediction: Hen Hud 8, Tappan Zee 4

No. 13 Panas at No. 4 Ardsley

I know Walter Panas has been sliding lately, but they got a favorable first round game with Ardsley, who plays a fairly weak schedule. I’m thinking the Panthers throw ace Ian Cole. Panas is a tough team to figure out. They’ve pulled out some big time wins, but other times they have some head scratcher losses. But I’m going with the rollercoaster ride known as Panas baseball.

Prediction: Walter Panas 7, Ardsley 5

Class B

No. 6 Briarcliff vs. No. 11 Bronxville

It should be smooth sailing for the Bears no matter who they throw. They may save Jordan Sacks for a quarterfinal date with Nanuet. James Lombardi shuts down the Broncos.

Prediction: Briarcliff 9, Bronxville 1

No. 10 Croton-Harmon at No. 7 Albertus Magnus

I think Croton has a chance, and they aren’t going to have the “just happy to be here” attitude. But in the end, the Falcons pull it out.

Prediction: Magnus 6, Croton 4