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Baseball: Here are the final lohud top 10, class rankings of the 2024 season

eugene rapay, rockland/westchester journal news
·6 min read

With the conclusion of the 2024 high school baseball season and state champions being crowned, here is a final look at the top baseball teams around the Lower Hudson Valley.

Roy C Ketcham players celebrate their 5-2 victory over John Jay (EF) in the Section 1 Class AAA championship at Purchase College May 25, 2024.
Roy C Ketcham players celebrate their 5-2 victory over John Jay (EF) in the Section 1 Class AAA championship at Purchase College May 25, 2024.

Top 10

Final 2024 rankings

  1. Ketcham (23-4) — The Storm suffered a heartbreaking ending in the state finals, but they continued their reign over Section 1, collecting their third straight section title, and they made it all the way to the Class AAA state championship game. It's been a tremendous run for Ketcham, who will bid farewell to a talented senior class after this season, but their legacy has been cemented in school and section history. All four of their losses this season came by one run against the likes of Arlington and John Jay-East Fishkill -- which they avenged -- NYSAIS powerhouse Poly Prep, and Fairport in the state finals. They outscored opponents, 199-59. Previously: 2

  2. Kennedy Catholic (19-6) — The Gaels just got better and better as the season unfolded. Just as they had done throughout the year, they showed plenty of resolve and won a series of tight games. They eventually battled their way out of the consolation bracket and made it to the CHSAA finals. Their lone postseason losses came against the champ, St. Peter's, and Kennedy Catholic lost both of those games by one run. Between tough pitching and solid senior leadership, the Gaels enjoyed a great 2024 season. Previously: 1

  3. Iona Prep (17-8) — Iona Prep fell just short of returning to the CHSAA Archdiocesan finals for the third straight year, but the Gaels had a deep postseason run and were among the top teams in the CHSAA throughout the year. The Gaels boasted one of the deepest pitching rotations around, but inconsistencies at the plate hurt them at times. Previously: 3

  4. Eastchester (17-9) — Fly, Eagles fly. Eastchester made its Class AA debut in style, storming its way to its first Section 1 title since 2005 and NYSPHSAA Final Four appearance since 1973. The Eagles had played a large chunk of Class A schools throughout the regular season due to league assignments, but by the time the postseason came, they quickly proved to be a contender behind the pitching one-two punch of Jason Ugalde and Jake Warnock, and their veteran lineup that played sound defense and got timely hits. Previously: Not ranked

  5. Fox Lane (16-8) — The Foxes took a collective step forward as a team, after making a Cinderella run as a low seed into the Section 1 final four last season. Fox Lane won a series of thrillers and made it to the Section 1 Class AA finals. The Foxes tried to climb out of an early hole, but fell short in the Eagles' historic run. Regardless, it was a great run for the Foxes. Although they will graduate St. John's-committed star Tyler Renz, a bulk of their roster is junior-heavy, so keep an eye on the Foxes next year. All eight of their losses were by three or fewer runs, including six one-run losses. Previously: 7

  6. John Jay-East Fishkill (13-8-1) — With the way league play went for them, there was no counting out the Patriots, who played a competitive schedule and was much better than their record indicated. John Jay-East Fishkill battled and won a semifinal thriller against rival Arlington and reached its first section championship game since 2012. The Patriots had an early lead on Ketcham, before falling, 5-2, in the finals. There were plenty of highlights for John Jay throughout the year, including a 13-2 win that aged very well over eventual Class A state champion Maine-Endwell. Previously: 9

  7. Arlington (19-3) — It might not have been the ending the Admirals had hoped for, but it was still a tremendous run for Arlington, who had won a league title in one of the toughest leagues around and held a 13-game winning streak. The Admirals fell to rival John Jay-East Fishkill in a back-and-forth battle in the Class AAA semifinals, but they were undoubtedly one of the top teams in the Lower Hudson Valley. Previously: 4

  8. Nanuet (17-6-1) — The Golden Knights enjoyed an impeccable turnaround campaign from finishing 5-15 last season, to becoming Section 1 champions for the first time since 1995. Their postseason run came to an end against Maine-Endwell in the Class A regional semifinals. They had the Spartans on the ropes in the bottom of the seventh, but they were unable to get the timely hit or knockout blow. No shame in losing to the eventual state champs, though, and there was no diminishing the ability to break a section title drought. Pace-committed pitcher Aidan Kempf turned plenty of heads for those unfamiliar with his game throughout the postseason. Previously: Not ranked

  9. Croton-Harmon (18-6) — The Tigers completed their vow to make it back to the section finals and finish with championship hardware. It was a long time coming, but Croton-Harmon was able to avenge last year's finals loss to Albertus Magnus in the Section 1 Class B semis, before rallying to defeat Rye Neck to win their first Section 1 crown in 43 years. Like Nanuet, the Tigers fell to the eventual state champion, Spackenkill, but that doesn't downplay what the season meant to the program. Previously: Not ranked

  10. Panas (17-7) — The initial prospect was unsure for the Panthers, after graduating a talented senior class that featured numerous Division I-level commits, including the 2023 Gatorade New York Player of the Year and MLB second-round draftee, Sam Stafura. Despite having plenty of new starters and others in much bigger roles, the Panthers returned to the Section 1 Class A finals, unseating No. 1 seed Tappan Zee along the way, before losing 1-0 to Nanuet. Previously: Not ranked

On the bubble: Mahopac (14-7-1), Stepinac (13-12), Rye Neck (19-4), Mamaroneck (11-9-1), Albertus Magnus (18-4), Clarkstown North (15-8), Harrison (13-9), Tappan Zee (19-4), John Jay-Cross River (14-8), Rye (13-9), Pleasantville (15-7), Tuckahoe (15-5-1), Yorktown (12-10)

Section 1 class rankings

Class AAA: 1. Ketcham; 2. John Jay-East Fishkill; 3. Arlington; 4. Mamaroneck; 5. Ossining; 6. North Rockland; 7. White Plains; 8. Scarsdale; 9. New Rochelle; 10. Port Chester

Class AA: 1. Eastchester; 2. Fox Lane; 3. Mahopac; 4. Clarkstown North; 5. Harrison; 6. Yorktown; 7. Suffern; 8. Clarkstown South; 9. Horace Greeley; 10. Somers

Class A: 1. Nanuet; 2. Panas; 3. Tappan Zee; 4. John Jay-Cross River; 5. Rye; 6. Hen Hud; 7. Pelham; 8. Hastings; 9. Pearl River; 10. Lakeland

Class B: 1. Croton-Harmon; 2. Rye Neck; 3. Albertus Magnus, 4. Pleasantville; 5. Putnam Valley; 6. Valhalla; 7. Bronxville; 8. Dobbs Ferry; 9. Pawling; 10. Westlake

Class C: 1. Tuckahoe; 2. Haldane; 3. Leffell School; 4. North Salem; 5. Hamilton

Follow Eugene Rapay on Twitter at @erapay5 and on Instagram at @byeugenerapay.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: lohud baseball: Final top 10, class rankings of the 2024 season