A Season Without a Crown
The usual end‑of‑year fanfare is missing from the high school baseball scene in Westchester, Putnam and Rockland. For the first time in recent memory no local squad captured a state championship, leaving the usual bragging rights up for grabs.
Instead, the focus has shifted to individual brilliance. The Journal News/lohud is set to unveil its player‑of‑the‑year selections, while a readers’ poll, sponsored by White Plains Hospital, invites the community to choose a single regional winner across all three counties.
Poll Closes Wednesday
Voting will remain open until 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, after which the champion will be announced in a special all‑stars package that will highlight the top performers from each county.
Among the standouts are Devin Diaz of Iona Prep, who batted .418 and stole 38 bases, and Julian Guzman, also from Iona Prep, who posted a .431 average with 40 RBI and 36 steals. Kaleb Hetzel of Tappan Zee has been nearly untouchable on the mound, posting a 0.00 ERA over 46 innings while hitting .388 and driving in 25 runs.
Pelham’s Gavin Keating combined a .343 average with a .477 on‑base percentage and nine stolen bases, while Mahopac’s Nick Masciarelli dazzled pitchers with a 0.76 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 46 innings. Clarkstown North’s Quinn Miller posted a 0.20 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 35 ⅓ innings, and Mamaroneck’s Will Plunkett hit .485 with a .611 on‑base percentage, clubbing six home runs.
The poll will determine a single regional champion whose name will be featured alongside these statistical highlights, rounding out a season that, despite the lack of a team title, is rich with talent and community pride.