High school central

Matchup: No. 2 Chaminade (2-0) vs. No. 17 West Islip (1-0) Game time: Saturday, noon, West Islip

It's as big a matchup as a non-league boys lacrosse game in March can be, and West Islip, according to its head coach, will be without its best player.

Senior midfielder Nick Aponte re-aggravated an upper-body injury during the third quarter of West Islip's 14-6 win over Connetquot on Wednesday...

Every Tuesday this season, Newsday's Will Sammon picks the top five Nassau boys lacrosse performers of the week. The list below takes into account games played from March 15-25. Suggestions and frustrations are appreciated, expected and welcome. Nice things can be said, too.

1. Luke Schwasnick, Oceanside

The Syracuse-bound midfielder had four goals to spur Oceanside to a come-from-behind...

Jesse Berardi, Commack, SS, Jr.: Smooth fielder with outstanding range. Left-handed stick who uses the entire field. Heavily recruited by D-I schools.

Mitch Calandra, Floral Park, C, Soph.: Two-year starter who threw out 17 base stealers as a freshman. Hit .333 with three home runs.

Chris Cepeda, Ward Melville, P/IF, Jr.: Transferred from Comsewogue and brings a nasty slider and moving...

Class is back in session at Cornell University.

The instructor? Sarah Cornell. The students? Anyone holding a bat. The lesson? A strikeout clinic.

In her season debut, the freshman pitcher struck out 20 batters in seven innings and allowed just one hit to lead Clarke to a 9-0 win over Farmingdale in a non-league game on Friday.

It was a nearly flawless beginning to the follow-up...

It’s game day and some of Long Island’s best pitchers are taking the mound. For many, pitching preparation doesn’t start when the school bell rings – it’s an all-day affair.

Patchogue-Medford’s Matt Vogel always has his iPod with him, listening to some of his favorite hype-up tunes.

“Music is a big part of my life,” Vogel said after a Newsday photo shoot Thursday night. “I have to listen...

High school softball teams have their own way of getting fired up. Here are some neat ones that some of Long Island's top players shared during a photo shoot at Newsday before the start of the 2013 regular season.

Island Trees junior pitcher Alannah Basile and senior third baseman Tori Tedeschi enjoy the Bulldogs’ pre-game ritual.

“Before the game, we lay on our stomachs in a circle...

As a new high school baseball season dawns, a similar theme has arisen. No, it isn’t who throws the best high heat in Suffolk or who can hit the farthest long ball in Nassau. It’s a lot less complicated than that.

Simply put – it’s cold out there!

As tryouts end and practices begin, the task of keeping warm is as much a part of everyday routines as taking ground balls and long tossing...

Matchup: Babylon (21-3) vs. Syracuse Westhill (20-2)

Game time: Friday, 6:45 p.m.

Jake Carlock and Ray Wardell scored all but two of Babylon’s points in overtime of their victory over Marlboro last Saturday, when the other three starters fouled out.

They know about winning, having also played on the Panthers’ LIC football team. They bring toughness and slick point guard Fernando...

Matchup: Amityville (21-2) VS. Burke Catholic (18-4)

Game time: Saturday, 9 a.m.

Amityville has won 17 straight games and allowed only 50 or more points five times during that streak. The Warriors’ defense features tremendous ball pressure from its deep set of guards, led by Travis Dickerson, Andy Laurent and Mike Smith, plus interior defense and rebounding from Kavione Green, the team...

Matchup: Northport (22-2) VS. New Rochelle (15-9)

Game time: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

The Tigers are battle-tested for their first visit to Glens Falls in 18 years, having won tight playoff games against Longwood, Deer Park and Baldwin.

Northport has held teams to under 50 points a game. A big reason is 6-9 senior center Luke Petrasek, who averages about 18 points, 11 rebounds and...