High school central

A similar - though condensed - version of this will run in tomorrow's paper, but for the folks who are here in Cortland now or on the way and won't get the paper, you can get a preview of the preview now.

NOTE: Laura and I will be covering all the games and providing updates, stats, pictures and commentary during each. If you can't make it to Cortland - heck, even if you're there - follow...

I was wrong.

I’ll say it again: I, Laura Albanese, being of sound mind and disposing memory and not acting under duress or undue influence, admit that I was wrong.

Some context: Earlier this week, while making my (so far, not-terrible!) predictions, I decided that Northport would pull the upset over third-seeded Ward Melville in a hotly contested Class A semifinal. And clearly,...

For the record, I’m really hesitant about doing this but…meh…why shouldn’t Suffolk get the same good stuff that Nassau does?

So here’s the deal (and I’m basically going to rip this off wholesale from what Stephen said): These picks are thoroughly objective. Just because I picked against your team doesn’t mean (a) I don’t like y’all (I’m having a blast this season, and all the girls are great)...

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...

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...

Class A Friday, May 17 No. 9 Lindenhurst at No. 8 Middle Country, 2 p.m. Winner moves on to play No. 1 Bay Shore No. 12 Whitman at No. 5 West Babylon, 3 p.m. Winner moves on to play No. 4 East Islip No. 11 Sachem East at No. 6 Half Hollow Hills, 4 p.m. Winner moves on the play No. 3 Ward Melville No. 10 Hauppauge at No. 7 Northport, 4 p.m. Winner moves on to play No. 2 West Islip Quarterfinals are...

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...