Softball teams to watch in each class for the 2024 Section 1 playoffs

Who will get to raise the Gold Glove and earn the title of Section 1 champion?

With the Section 1 softball postseason set to begin for the rest of the section, here are some teams in each class to keep an eye on for the playoffs.

Class AAA

Arlington: After a rocky 3-3 start to the year, the Admirals gained momentum, got a share of the league title, and went 10-2 the rest of the way against Section 1 competition. They recently battled with North Rockland and lost in a tightly-contested 2-1 duel. They've shown their capabilities in quality wins over Clarkstown South, John Jay-East Fishkill and Ketcham, but they've also suffered some tough losses. If they can establish consistency, they'll be a contender to keep an eye on.

John Jay-East Fishkill: The Patriots won a share of the league title in, statistically, one of the toughest leagues in the entire section. Those experiences will surely help them for the postseason, as they aim to put together its deepest postseason run since winning a section title in 2019. The Patriots are scrappy and only have two losses against Section 1 opponents, both one-run games against Arlington and Ketcham.

Ketcham: The Storm hit a rough patch midway through the season and suffered five straight losses, before closing out the regular season with a three-game winning streak, which included revenge wins over Carmel and John Jay-East Fishkill. The Storm seems to be hitting its stride again, which will make this No. 5 seed an intriguing team to watch. Its potential quarterfinal matchup with league rival Arlington will be one of the best early-round matchups to watch.

Mamaroneck: A sleeper pick in Class AAA, the Tigers have shown at times that they're not a team to be taken lightly. They defeated last year's Section 1 Class A champion Ursuline in their first meeting, and pushed Harrison to extra innings. The top seeds will be tough to crack, but if Mamaroneck can play to its potential, it might be able to scare its foe.

North Rockland: The two-time reigning section champs are on the hunt for a third straight title. The Red Raiders may have graduated a core group that was instrumental to bringing the title in each of the last few years, but they have reloaded behind senior Mia Valverde and an up-and-coming group of sophomores that have risen to the occasion this year. Tara Murphy, Ava Jacobs and Hannah Leon are sophomore standouts, but it's been a team-wide effort dispatching top-level competition across the entire section to prepare for the postseason.

White Plains: The Tigers were on the losing end of back-to-back finals heartbreak finishes to North Rockland, but they're hoping that the third time is the charm. White Plains met North Rockland in an early in the season and lost, but it has come a long way since then. The Tigers enter the playoffs with a 13-game winning streak and are hungry to avenge their lone loss of the season against the Red Raiders. White Plains' freshman Alexis Tighe has impressed in the circle as the new full-time starting pitcher, but the Tigers have hit well as a team behind her and boast a .422 team batting average and a Section 1-best run differential of +169.

Class AA

Clarkstown North: After finishing below-.500 last season, the Rams are enjoying a big turnaround year. Sophomore catcher Marlee Levin is an all-around contributor and works well with the senior pitching tandem of Izabella Blanco and Lauren Tighe. The Rams have a senior-heavy roster that hopes to finish on a high note, with Campbell Barrett and Emily Davida leading that experienced group, but underclassmen like Levin, Siena DeCicco and Peyton Conti have also provided a boost. The Rams don't make many mistakes defensively, either.

Clarkstown South: They've shown steady growth over the last couple of years since going 8-14 in 2022 to reach where they are now. Now, they're hoping to complete that transformation with championship hardware. Sophomore pitcher Kayla Dwyer is enjoying a breakout season for the top-seeded Vikings, but there's plenty of depth and speed throughout their lineup. Grace Camerlingo, Gillian Ulrich, Carley Voce and Kaitlyn Rose are some of the top offensive contributors in a deep lineup.

Eastchester: Last year, the Eagles had an up-and-down year as a young team undergoing growing pains. Now a year older and wiser, they've taken a big collective step forward as a team, emerging as a contender and the No. 2 seed in Class AA. Alyssa Peduto is one of the top shortstops around, while fellow upperclassmen Bailey Gallo, Angelica Cosgrove and Gianna Peduto help lead a team that has a nice blend of experienced veterans and talented underclassmen already making an impact. They hit and defend well, and eighth-grade pitcher Sabrina Cosgrove does a good job of holding down the circle.

Harrison: The core of this team has started together for the last few years and led the Huskies to the Section 1 semifinals in each of the last two seasons. This year, they're hoping for a breakthrough behind Carnegie Mellon-bound senior Gabriella Triano, and standouts Barbara Jo Coppola, Liv Greco, Lexi Cozzali and young up-and-comers Jordanna Yomtov and Madison Miller. They have the battery to go far and widespread experience, they'll just need to string together the key plays and victories to fulfill their title hopes.

Somers: The Tuskers continue to build upward behind second-year coach Teresa Ricci, who helped guide the program to their second straight league title. Last year, they reached the quarterfinals, but they hope to go even further this time around behind newly-minted league player of the year Katherine Papa and two-time league pitcher of the year Emily Boyle. Also keep an eye on sophomore shortstop Katie Cole and senior outfielder Ellie Walsh.

Ursuline: The Koalas may be the No. 6 seed, but there's no sleeping on Ursuline, who won its first Section 1 title in school history last season as a Class A team. Now in Class AA, they remain in contention behind nationally-ranked sophomore Ava Papaleo, Bryant commit Emilia Mancusi, and standout shortstop Jessica Tejera. The Koalas have three or four pitchers to rotate between game-by-game or inning-by-inning, which will provide an interesting element for opponents to prepare for. Ursuline has made it to at least the semifinals in each of the last three years, so you can count on the Koalas to find a way.

Class A

Ardsley: Thanks to a deep and talented group of underclassmen, it looks like the Panthers are built to compete for the next few years. However, they are focused on making a statement now. Ardsley reached the Section 1 Class B semifinals last season, but it's been a competitive team since making the jump to Class A. With plenty of young stars, including last year's league pitcher of the year, Sofia Haber, it'll be interesting to see who's ready to rise to the occasion in the postseason.

Edgemont: A dark horse candidate in Class A, the Panthers have enjoyed one of their best seasons in recent years. Edgemont opened the season with eight-straight victories, its best start ever, before hitting a rough patch in league play and settling down at the end of the regular season. After winning a combined 19 games over the last three years, Edgemont enters the postseason with a 13-6-1 record. How far can the Panthers go?

Hen Hud: If there was a time to lose, it was right before the do-or-die nature of the playoffs. The Sailors had their six-game winning streak snapped by a tough 2-1 loss to Somers in the regular season finale. The No. 4 seed in this year's tournament, the Sailors have shown in the past that they're never to be written off until the final out. Emma and Kiely Morley, as well as Ja'Nae Walker are veteran upperclassmen leaders on a team filled with plenty of young talent, which includes last year's league pitcher of the year, Emma Barbelet, and league player of the year, Emma Johannsen.

Nyack: Returning all-state standout Gianna Longo is a dynamic threat that can impact the game in a variety of ways. There's a young cast around her, but the RedHawks should be competitive. They've given opposing teams a scare as the lower seed in recent playoff runs, and it will be interesting to see how they fare as the No. 6 seed. Nyack has picked up quality wins throughout the year, but playing clean defense will be a point of emphasis.

Pearl River: The Pirates are on the hunt for their first section finals appearance since 2016. Senior shortstop Cat Arnold and three-time all-state selection Kiera Luckie lead a young, but scrappy and speedy unit of Pirates. Fresh off of winning a league title, Pearl River is eager for more. It only has one Class A loss this season, which came from a closely-contested series split with rival Tappan Zee.

Tappan Zee: Since softball returned to action in 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic, only three teams have reached the section finals every year – North Rockland, Albertus Magnus and Tappan Zee. The Dutchmen have had great continuity over the years and have a bright future with a young core group. Haley Arvidson is emerging as a pitcher, while senior Keira Meyers remains a big contributor at shortstop. Despite only being sophomores, Alyssa Chiappa, Savannah Nordstrom and Adrianna D'Orio have a ton of starting experience and success in the program, and Stella Bertoli is shining as a freshman.

Class B

Albertus Magnus: The Falcons' core group has played together for a long time and have been valued contributors since first setting foot on the diamond as freshmen. Now upperclassmen, they hope to erase past finals heartbreaks in each of the last two years and come away with the title. Teagan Dwyer, Lizzie Geary, Maddie Geary and Vanessa Gonzalez highlight a strong junior class, but the return of Allie Falesto and the emergence of Aubrey Dwyer have only bolstered the Falcons.

Dobbs Ferry: Since a shaky 0-3 start, the Eagles closed the regular season with an 11-4-1 record. They have solid hitting throughout their lineup, which helped them outlast Class B contender Pawling in an 11-10 shootout last week. Abby Dann has improved and settled in at pitcher as the season goes on, while two-time league player of the year Maysin Kannapin, Sofia Fucci, Nicolette Giorgio and Alexa Vicchio continue to be steady contributors.

Pawling: The Tigers have the luxury of two solid senior pitchers, Mikaela Mammola and Josie O'Leary, who will both play at the next level. Outside of the circle, there's plenty of depth and hitters all throughout their batting order. Mammola, O'Leary, Lyndsey Cole, Autumn Tompkins, Hailey Zwingman and the emergence of eighth-grader Samantha Rodney have been big offensively. The Tigers enter the postseason with a Section 1-best 224 runs scored.

Rye Neck: The two-time reigning Section 1 Class B champions are back in the hunt, this time, as the No. 2 seed. Shelby Preisser has impressed in the circle and at the plate, while Monmouth-committed catcher Clare Picone and Springfield-bound Ariana Hammer also help lead the way. Preisser, Picone and Hammer also started on the Panthers' 2022 and 2023 section title-winning teams. Rye Neck suffered earlier losses to Albertus Magnus and Pawling, but its past experiences in high-pressure postseason battles will be crucial in potential rematches.

Valhalla: Two-time all-state selection Tanner Smith leads the Vikings, and she has the ability to influence the outcome with her arm or her bat. The Vikings are young, but they've always found a way to stay in the mix in Class B. Smith is closing in on 900 career strikeouts, and she is batting .481 this season.

Class C

Haldane: For the first time since 2019, the Blue Devils have their own team again, so despite being a young team, expect them to make the most of the postseason and give their best effort. Haldane junior Callie Sniffen has one of the sweetest swings in the section, racking up 23 home runs over the last two seasons, including 11 this year.

Tuckahoe: After getting a taste of section title-winning glory last year, the Tigers are desperate for a repeat. Katie Attwood has leveled up in the circle, while there's plenty of experience all throughout the lineup in Gianna Galati, Bianca Pian, Daniella Morgan, Molly Attwood and Cayleigh Handel.

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

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Softball teams to watch in each class for the 2024 Section 1 playoffs