High school central

After Clarke dropped the first game of the best-of-three quarterfinal in Nassau ‘A’ to league foe and No. 14 Valley Stream North the Rams needed to make a statement.

Despite being seeded 11 spots higher, Clarke had its back up against the wall in the quarterfinals again. In 2012 No. 16 Plainedge upset the Rams en route to an unlikely state semifinal run.

“They were only a 14 seed because...

The Nassau boys lacrosse semifinals begin Tuesday for each class. Below is a quick look at each game. Below that, you can vote on who will win each game.

CLASS A SEMIFINALS

No. 1 Massapequa vs. No. 4 Farmingdale

Tuesday, 8:00 p.m., at Hofstra

What to look for: The Chiefs offense, led by Paul Bentz, Craig Berge and James Byrns, who totaled almost 200 points during the regular...

Of the 45 teams in Suffolk, only 16 are still playing today. Yeah…it’s the playoffs, and it’s going to be a dogfight all the way up to Cortland. But enough about that stuff. We’re kicking off this Girls Who Run This World with a hat-tip to all the girls who busted their butts all season but don't get to play another day. And who better to start with than… Courtney Murphy, Floyd – The girl deserves...

Entering the playoffs as the No. 13 seed and needing to win two elimination games just to make it into the Class A quarterfinals was not anything out of the ordinary for Plainedge.

That’s because the Red Devils entered the playoffs as the No. 16 seed in 2012 and went all the way to the state semifinals.

“We know that once you make the playoffs any team can win,” head coach Colin Fratrik...

Syosset starting pitcher Jake Laine has had a heck of a week.

The Braves senior ace was dominant on Monday in No. 7 Syosset’s 1-0 win over No. 10 Farmingdale in the first round of the playoffs. Laine went the distance and allowed only two hits, striking out seven and walking none. But most importantly he was efficient – his masterpiece was completed in under 60 pitches.

Fast-forward...

Bayport-Blue Point (22-0) entered Friday's Class A winners bracket semifinal against No. 4 Miller Place having allowed only seven runs in its last eight games.

This time, it was their bats and some timely relief pitching that did the work in a 12-7 win.

Mike Alliegro capped a four-run fourth inning with an RBI single for BBP that put them in front 9-2, a seemingly insurmountable deficit...

Four teams in Class AA and A will have the opportunity to advance in the winners’ bracket of their respective classes. On the flip side, seasons will be on the line as six elimination games will be played across both classifications. Class B and C also begin their tournaments.

Class AA

Four teams have advanced undefeated through the first two rounds of Suffolk’s double elimination tournament...

Action continues Friday in the Nassau baseball playoffs. Let’s reset and take a look at what’s occurred this week.

Class AA

Three of the four semifinalists are set. We await the winner of Game 3 between No. 2 Hicksville and No 7 Syosset to determine the seeding. That series will conclude on Friday.

If Hicksville wins, they will host Carey and No. 1 seed MacArthur will face off...

Class A Semifinals

No. 5 Syosset vs. No. 1 Farmingdale, 4 p.m. Monday at Adelphi University Syosset advanced with a 13-4 win over Hicksville. Connor Bird scored four goals and Kim Presuto made 16 saves. The Braves had lost in last year's quarterfinals. The Dalers, seven-time defending Nassau champs, rolled to a 20-3 win over MacArthur on Wednesday. Amanda Turturro and Johnna Leone each scored...

Dominique Soto didn't have much of a choice but to go behind the plate for the Miller Place softball team prior to its League VI game against Eastport-South Manor on May 1.

Soto, who is the Panthers’ regular third baseman, was tapped to play catcher by coach Danielle Hazen not only because she was capable, but because there was no one else to help fill the void.

“We knew she could do...