OK… today is going to be a wild day on the diamond as the regional semifinals in Class B and C will begin in a little more than an hour from now so here’s my take on those games, followed by the two finals at Nanuet High School.

Regional Semifinals
Class B: Albertus Magnus vs. Marlboro: I’ve been trying to study up on Marlboro and after reading the story from the Times-Hearld Record; they’re battled tested. Chelsea Lopez had a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh for Marlboro to win the Sectonal championship. But if there is one thing that I’ve learned about the Falcons these last two years; it’s not to count them out. That senior core (Molly Meehan, Maura Power, Alyssa Valente, Rosie Coyne) has been in this position before. The Falcons have made the regional semifinals the last two years and have lost by a run. These ladies will be playing I believe with a chip on their shoulder. This season has definitely been one of being battle tested. And if there is one that I’ve learned about these team, especially in the last couple of games, is that don’t underestimate this team. The winner of this game will play the winner of Carle Bays (Section 8)/Hampton Bays (Section 11) at 4 p.m. today.
Prediction: Albertus Magnus 2, Marlboro 1.
Class C: Valhala vs. Rhinebeck: Remember, Rhinebeck is the team that knocked Haldane out of the state tournament last year. Megan Michie pitched seven solid innings, striking out 10 in a 1-0 sectional championship win. The thing you have to give a lot of credit to the Lady Vikings is that they have a lot of fight. They went in and knocked out last year’s champion 6-3. For Valhalla to be successful, the Vikings need to get to Michie early. And after watching North Rockland dismantle Horseheads on Monday, I’ve learned this… it maybe the same team from a year ago, it doesn’t mean that the outcome will be the same. The winner of this game will play Oyster Bay (Section 8)/Port Jefferson (Section 11) at 4 p.m. today.
Prediction: Rhinebeck 2, Valhalla 1. I think

Regional finals
Class A: Pearl River vs. Cornwall: The Pirates make it back here for the second straight season and they have shown how battle tested they are through out not only the regular season but the post-season too. What else can be said of the job that Katie O’Flynn is doing. She has had incredible poise in the circle and that helped her in the win over Maine-Endwell. For the Pirate offense, they are going to have to get scrappy and play the small ball game and get the bunt down. Cornwall is making the state tournament for the first time since 2004. But this Pirate team was the same team that was in the state final four last year. Jessica Wood and Kelsey Hand are good, but Pearl River has that depth in spades.
Prediction: Pearl River 3, Cornwall 1.
Class AA: North Rockland vs. FDR: I think that Red Raiders have shown everyone that they can beat you many different ways. In the last two games of the playoffs, they’ve shown that they can beat you with great pitching and in their last game with the bat. In my years on this planet and the amount of time I played in the all-rockland league; this I believe is the best North Rockland team I’ve ever seen. The Presidents have been on a whirlwind ride this season and I think Valley Central (who they beat in the Section 9 final) was the top-seed. But North Rockland is a dangerous team and can do it all.
North Rockland 4, FDR 2.