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 percent

Courtney 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.