High school central

High school softball teams have their own way of getting fired up. Here are some neat ones that some of Long Island's top players shared during a photo shoot at Newsday before the start of the 2013 regular season.

Island Trees junior pitcher Alannah Basile and senior third baseman Tori Tedeschi enjoy the Bulldogs’ pre-game ritual.

“Before the game, we lay on our stomachs in a circle...

The starting times for Saturday’s Class A and Class AA Long Island Championship boys basketball games at Hofstra have been confirmed by. Ed Cinelli, executive director of Section XI (Suffolk).

Section XI is serving as host for the games at the Mack Center, confirmed Monday, the following schedule: Class A: Amityville vs. Jericho, 5 p.m. ($7 admission) Class AA: Northport vs. Baldwin, 7:30...

1. Long Island Lutheran (16-3)

2. St. Mary's (16-3)

3. Massapequa (14-0)

4. North Shore (15-1)

5. Baldwin (11-3)

6. Mepham (14-2)

7. MacArthur (13-3)

8. Farmingdale (13-3)

9. Uniondale (12-4)

10. Kellenberg (8-6)...

1. St. Mary's (10-3) 2. Long Island Lutheran (9-3) 3. Massapequa (10-0) 4. North Shore (11-1) 5. MacArthur (9-2) 6. Baldwin (6-3) 7. Mepham (10-0) 8. Uniondale (10-2) 9. Farmingdale (10-2) 10. Kellenberg (6-5)...

1. Long Island Lutheran (6-3)

2. St. Mary's (6-2)

3. Baldwin (5-1)

4. Massapequa (7-0)

5. North Shore (7-1)

6. Farmingdale (8-0)

7. Uniondale (6-2)

8. Mepham (5-0)

9. MacArthur (6-2)

10. Sacred Heart (6-4)....

With four starters gone, some thought this was the season Baldwin could relinquish its crown as the best team in Nassau Class AA. That may be premature.

Baldwin showed in its biggest test of the season it won’t go away easily. The Bruins defeated North Babylon, a team with two Division I prospects, 52-46 on Dec. 28.

“We’re young and inexperienced,” fourth-year coach Tom Catapano said....