With the high school baseball season just starting to heat up, local teams are busy working out the knots and kinks of the long hiatus.

This corner of the borough will be duly represented by its usual teams. John F. Kennedy, DeWitt Clinton, Evander Childs and Walton high schools will hold the line in the Bronx A division, while The Bronx High School of Science will be the sole Division B team from the borough’s northwest.

Past seasons point to JFK as the favorite team to watch. Last year, the Knights went 15-1 to capture the borough championship, but lost their shot at the city title in the semi-finals. The team lost a portion of its talent from last year, but Coach Alex Torres says promising young players, like freshman Erich Gonzalez, who displays prowess all over the ball field, keep hopes high for the Knights.

“I think we’re starting to turn the corner now,” says Torres, acknowledging a rough loss to Morris Educational Campus in the Knights’ season opener.  The team has since tightened things up, and JFK has won its last three contests. “Our biggest hurdle is trying to win the division,” says Torres. “Every game means something.” 

The DeWitt Clinton Governors started their season smoothly. Despite losing talent in significant positions, Coach Dennis

D’Alessandro remains confident in the team’s abilities. “Our pitching is starting to fill in,” he says. “Just in time, because the schedule is about to get tough.”
Though confident, D’Alessandro remains realistic when discussing the team’s prospects. “We should make the playoffs,” he says.

“I’d like to make a run at the whole thing.” To do so, he said his team would have to “play perfect, clean, fundamental baseball,” adding that “we’re getting there.”

D’Alessandro also shared what he believes to be the best kept secret in the city. Senior Kevin Hernandez, a center fielder, who, aside from proving his worth in the outfield, is a formidable pitcher as well.

The remaining three teams in the northwest Bronx all endured rough starts to their seasons. The Walton Wildcats came out strong with a 13-3 win against Jane Addams in their season opener, but have suffered three consecutive losses since. Evander

Childs remain winless and faces difficult games against JFK and Clinton in the near future (see upcoming northwest Bronx Games). Meanwhile, the Bronx Science Wolverines are one game above the .500 mark after five games.