NYSPHSAA announcements: Softball state final four extended; Section 1 football to change
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association has approved the BEDS numbers for the 2023-24 school year, and the extension of the softball state final four to a two-day championship event starting in 2023 at its executive committee meeting on Wednesday.
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While the NYSPHSAA hasn't finalized the cut off numbers for the sports implementing six classes in 2023-24, like boys basketball, girls basketball, boys soccer, girls soccer, baseball, softball and girls volleyball, there appear to be several key changes to the football landscape in Section 1.
The most notable one is Rye will be dropping down to Class B for football next fall, where it had won three state titles in 2005, 2007 and 2008. Lakeland, Nyack and Sleepy Hollow are also moving to Class B from Class A.
Bronxville will also be rejoining Class C, after spending the last couple of seasons in Class B, and Rye Neck moves up to Class B.
Here is how each class will be shaping up for football in 2023, per Section 1's enrollment data:
Class AA: Arlington, Carmel, John Jay-East Fishkill, Ketcham, Mamaroneck, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, North Rockland, Ossining, Port Chester, Ramapo, Scarsdale, Spring Valley, Suffern, White Plains, Yonkers Brave, Yonkers Force
Class A: Brewster, Clarkstown North, Clarkstown South, Eastchester, Fox Lane, Harrison, Horace Greeley, John Jay-Cross River/North Salem, Mahopac, Panas, Peekskill, Pelham, Poughkeepsie, Somers, Tappan Zee, Yorktown
Class B: Ardsley, Briarcliff/Hamilton, Byram Hills, Croton-Harmon, Edgemont, Hastings, Hen Hud, Irvington, Lakeland, Nanuet, Nyack, Pearl River, Pleasantville, Putnam Valley, Rye, Rye Neck, Sleepy Hollow
Class C: Albertus Magnus, Blind Brook, Bronxville, Dobbs Ferry, Pawling, Valhalla, Westlake, Woodlands
Class D: Haldane, Tuckahoe
NYSPHSAA softball final four becomes two-day event
It had formerly been a one-day event, where state semifinal and championship games for all classifications were played in a single day.
Starting with the Spring 2023 season, semifinals are slated for Friday, June 9, followed by state title games on Saturday, June 10.
This year's NYSPHSAA final four will be held at the Center Moriches Athletic Complex in Long Island once again.
"I think that's a great idea," Section 1's all-time wins leader and Rye Neck coach Joan Spedafino. "It's such an important day, and it gives you rest and time to regroup. It's also another day of playing and extending your season. Softball's different than baseball though with pitching. You can have the same girl pitch, so that part's not a disadvantage, but if you have an extra-inning game or something, you don't really have a break."
The NYSPHSAA transitioned to a two-day championship event for baseball in 2017. With the state expanding to six classifications for high school sports, including softball, in 2023-24, it also made the decision easier for the NYSPHSAA.
Inclement weather, hydration issues for players during hot days and extra-inning games presented logistical issues for NYSPHSAA when it came to holding one-day championship events for softball.
Teams would be scheduled to play semifinal games in the morning, then championships later in the afternoon, but even with the strict scheduling of games and use of four fields, there would be inevitable delays and other issues.
"In watching things closely the two years I was there and after as a fan, there were definitely circumstances where one of the games goes longer or runs into extra innings," Pearl River coach Chris Woolgar said. "It can cause a problem with one team ending their semifinal, then the other teams are playing for an extra half-hour or hour more, and then not getting the same rest period in-between.
"This will help teams as far as being able to be at full strength and rested, although softball is conducive to having your best pitcher pitch every game. It also helps coaches get an extra day to prepare and makes things better overall for a true championship."
Follow Eugene Rapay on Twitter at @erapay5 and on Instagram at @byeugenerapay.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NYSPHSAA softball final four now 2-day event, football classes change
