It’s been no secret that the weather for the majority of this spring season was disappointing to say the least.
While plenty of rain and temperatures that made it feel like early March continued for two months too long, it certainly hasn’t been a dream for sportswriters like me—or our area athletes, I’d imagine. But over the last week or so, things have really started to heat up, both in terms of the average temperature and stellar in-game action.
Of course, it seems natural that the majority of the year’s best games take place once the postseason rolls around; the best teams are squaring off against each other, with Section I’s ultimate prize hanging in the balance. It makes sense that these evenly matched teams would produce entertaining results, but this year, perhaps more than most, instant classics seem to be more the rule than the exception.
Whether it’s upsets like John Jay’s baseball team knocking off defending state champion Byram Hills on Monday, or—closer to home—Haldane knocking off reigning Class C softball champion Tuckahoe, there has been no shortage of fireworks so far.
Perhaps nobody had a better first week of the playoffs, at least drama-wise, than Mamaroneck’s softball team, which rallied from a sizeable deficit to top league rival Scarsdale?]] 5-4 in extra innings in the opening round of the Class AA playoffs last Friday, and then followed that win up with an impressive upset of No. 3 seed Yorktown just a few days later.
Tigers coach Alison Bedosky was quick to deny that any momentum from her team’s win over the Raiders carried over into their quarterfinal showdown with the Huskers, but, with all due respect to the skipper, I’m not so sure.
Watching the Tigers celebrate their 6-5 win on Yorktown’s field on Monday, I couldn’t help but think that there was something special going on, and that each of the players knew it, too.
Does that mean the Tigers are guaranteed to keep those good times going against John Jay in the semis after press time? Of course not. One good turn doesn’t always predict a historic run. Just look at Eastchester’s baseball team, which followed up a dramatic walk-off victory against Lakeland with a second-round loss to Brewster.
Early-round magic doesn’t always stick around, but it is definitely fun while it lasts.
As of press time, we’ve got quite a few teams in the Review’s coverage area still alive: Harrison’s baseball team, Mamaroneck’s boys’ lacrosse, baseball and softball squads, both lacrosse teams from Bronxville and a Tuckahoe baseball team eager to come away with a state title.
Maybe each one of these teams will go all the way; maybe they’ll all lose in their next contest. Regardless, one thing is certain: no matter how cold it was all season long, no matter how wet it was, no matter how many games got rained out, right now, the sun is shining on high school sports.
Let’s just hope those pesky clouds stay away for the next few weeks.
