Great job so far with the players to watch, many of which I already knew about. However, there’s something you can really help me with as I prep for the season: Who are the underclassmen (freshmen and sophomores) to watch around the LoHud?

Obviously, there are a few I already know about: Stephen Green from John Jay; Mike Rosenfeld from Mamaroneck; Ryan Penner from Rye Neck; Ryan Blicker from Hastings. But who will join the Greens or the Rosenfelds this year as the kings of the Class of 2010?

To tell you the truth, I didn’t know anything about Somers LHP/OF Dan Zlotnick last season and he put up some of the best all-around numbers in Section 1. Who’s the next Zlotnick?

If you do, join our March Madness bracket challenge at LoHud.com/brackets. Joining gives you the opportunity to win enough cash to buy all the best baseball equipment for you or your team and still have enough left over to buy a dog and beer at Yankee Stadium…just not two!

Anyway, here’s how it works: Go to the site and fill out your bracket. If you fill out a perfect bracket — the grand dream of all amateur bracketologists out there — you will win $10,000. That’s it. That’s all it takes.

For the record, my final four looks like this: UNC, UCLA, Memphis, and Georgetown. UCLA beats Georgetown to win and Kevin “Good Vibrations” Love is the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. (Love then goes on to marry Jennifer Love Hewitt, whose name becomes Jennifer Love Hewitt-Love.)

It’s just a week into the season but we’re gathering the info for our baseball preview. As always, one part of that preview will be the top players to watch in the area, so…

Because I believe in interactivity, I ask you: Who do you consider the players to watch in the area and why?

Of course, I’ll be reading the responses carefully. Do your best convincing…

I heard about another local player’s college commitment today. Lakeland senior Brendan Hourihan is headed to Cortland State.

The P/OF batted .371 with two HRs and 11 RBI as a junior. He also finished 5-3 with a 3.34 ERA and 56 K’s in 52.1 IP. The innings and strikeouts ranked him among the leaders in the LoHud.

If anyone has other college commitments to report, shoot me an e-mail at jthomson@lohud.com.

In the midst of preparing for what he hopes is a run at the Class C title, Tuckahoe senior Chris Boyer has committed to Endicott College in Beverly, Mass. The 3B hit .388 with 16 RBI, 15 runs scored, four doubles, two triples, and 11 walks in 49 ABs. He also pitched 15 innings and finished with a 2-1 record.

The Tigers are a legit contender to two-time champ Keio in Class C. They lost an all-section player in Lowell Robinson, but with Boyer, Pat Siciliano, Joesph Melendez, Rich Brey and Matt Strictrodt all back they may actually be the favorite on paper.

Anyway, I wanted to pass that along…I’ll have more over the weekend.

The season started yesterday and not a moment too soon. It definitely felt like baseball season with the temps around 50 and the sun shining bright. I’d imagine everyone practiced outdoors, at least for a while. I always hated the lighting in the gym. Coaches probably don’t know this, but when you play catch in the gym you can’t really see the ball until it’s about 20 feet from your face. Not exactly safe, if you know what I’m sayin’.

Anyway, if you’re a coach and you’re reading this, please send me an e-mail with your completed roster as soon as you can and we’ll post it on MaxPreps. My e-mail is jthomson@lohud.com. If you’d rather fax it, send it over to 914-696-8118 and send it to my attention.

Trust me: The quicker we get your roster up, the smoother it will go when you call the games in.

Thanks for the attention to this matter. (And if you’re a player or a parent, get your coach to send me the roster.)

I’ll see what I come across this week, but I’ll be sure to return in full force beginning Monday. The basketball season will be over by then, the rosters will be finalized, and baseball season will be upon us for good. Can’t wait…