Who is the best pitcher in Section 9?
Marissa Diescher, Livingston Manor (8) 32 percent
Jane Pinckney, Valley Central (8) 32 percent
Jen Reitemeyer, Roosevelt (4) 16 percent
Alyssa Brognano, Chapel Field (3) 12 percent
Other (2) 8 percent
Rodriguez's take: The big surprise? No votes for Goshen's Chelsey Locatell — last season's Varsity845 Player of the Year. I think Chelsey, healthy, is as good as any of the pitchers on the list. Give Diescher a Class AA defense behind her and Diescher vs. Pinckney would probably be 1-0 in 14 innings.
Pinckney, a junior, is 18-0 this year with a 0.48 ERA. She's allowed just 50 hits in 116 innings with 148 strikeouts.
Only a sophomore, Diescher is 10-3 with an 0.18 ERA.
Player you would start a team around?
Marissa Diescher, pitcher, Livingston Manor (6) 24 percent
Maggie Cocks, shortstop, Valley Central (3) 12 percent
Christie Nicolo, shortstop, Pine Bush (3) 12 percent
Chelsey Locatell, pitcher, Goshen (3) 12 percent
Alyssa Brognano, pitcher, Chapel Field (2) 8 percent
Jen Reitemeyer, pitcher, Roosevelt (2) 8 percent
Other (6) 24 percent
Rodriguez's take: Many coaches think Diescher would dominate in Class AA. I agree. She handles top level hitters all summer with the Tri-State Angels. Diescher already has 200 strikeouts this season. She fanned 273 batters last year.
Most underrated player in Section 9?
Rebecca Monteith, Tuxedo (3) 12 percent
Courtney Finn, catcher, Minisink Valley (2) 8 percent
Rachel Reed, catcher, Middletown (2) 8 percent
Alyssa Brognano, pitcher, Chapel Field (2) 8 percent
Other (13) 52 percent
No answer (3) 12 percent
Rodriguez's take: OK, she's underrated, but Monteith still might be one of the best players in Section 9. A senior center fielder, Monteith is batting .488 with 10 RBI, 22 runs and 23 stolen bases this season. She's also played shortstop this year. "I can pretty much play her anywhere," said Tuxedo coach Michelle Micklos. "She can really fly in the outfield, she will get to anything hit."
Who is Section 9's top coach?
Bruce Guyette, Minisink Valley (9) 36 percent
Frank Jordan, Valley Central (4) 16 percent
Bill Spanjer Jr., Chapel Field (2) 8 percent
Mike Becker, Chester (2) 8 percent
No answer (2) 8 percent
Other (6) 24 percent
Rodriguez's take: In his 24th season, Guyette is 423-136-1, including 8-4 this year. He is one of the most respected coaches by his peers — in any sport — in Section 9.
Which coach makes you feel like you are playing human chess?
Bruce Guyette, Minisink Valley (9) 36 percent
Jonnah O'Donnell, Marlboro (4) 16 percent
John Faggione, Port Jervis (2) 8 percent
Other (5) 20 percent
No answer (5) 20 percent
Rodriguez's take: You might beat Guyette. But he'll make you earn it, constantly playing a cat-and-mouse game on the diamond. According to the poll, O'Donnell is the smartest Mid-Hudson Athletic League coach. She is also one of the classiest.
Who is the best umpire?
Bobby Moran (4) 16 percent
Kathy Zifchock (3) 12 percent
Sal Patane (3) 12 percent
Steve Jacobs (2) 8 percent
Bruce Wittman (2) 8 percent
Other (7) 28 percent
No answer (4) 16 percent
Rodriguez's take: No answer got as many votes as the top umpire — Moran. Come on. Coaches praised Moran's work, as well as Zifchock's and Patane's. Good job, blue.
The one rule change that must happen is?
Don't change anything (9) 36 percent
Pitching distance should be 43 feet — not 40 (5) 20 percent
Not wearing facemasks on batting helmets (2) 8 percent
Other (9) 36 percent
Rodriguez's take: The other answers ranged from making the 15-run rule a 10-run rule, to making teams forfeit if they arrive 30 minutes late.
Where is the nicest field or place to play?
Middletown (5) 20 percent
Minisink Valley (4) 16 percent
Mount Airy Fields, New Windsor (4) 16 percent
Roosevelt (3) 12 percent
West Point (1) 4 percent
Marlboro (1) 4 percent
Other (7) 28 percent
Rodriguez's take: Middletown might have won by a landslide if this weren't the first year the facility was open and more coaches had played on it.
The toughest part of the job is dealing with?
Parents (11) 44 percent
The weather and postponements (6) 24 percent
Commitment of the players (3) 12 percent
Other (5) 20 percent
Rodriguez's take: Some coaches vented about parents, saying among other things, they complain too much, think their kid is much better than she really is, and think they should automatically get a "scholarship."
Some things never change.
Who is the most feared hitter?
Charlise Castro, Kingston (10) 40 percentCourtney Finn, Minisink Valley (2) 8 percent
Maggie Cocks, Valley Central (2) 8 percent
Chelsey Locatell, Goshen (2) 8 percent
Marissa Diescher, Livingston Manor (2) 8 percent
Other (7) 32 percent
Rodriguez's take: Local coaches are afraid, very afraid, of Castro, a junior. They should be. Castro is batting .444 (20-for-45) for Kingston with three homers, 15 RBI and 23 runs. She's not one dimensional, either. Castro can steal a base, swiping 11-of-11 this season.
