I also didn’t have an opportunity to link to Monday’s feature on Zack Tax, the Rye Country Day senior-to-be.

The story focuses on how well Tax has pitched and played despite having to tend to his Type I diabetes. As you can see in the photo above, Tax can never forget it while he pitches, try though he might.

Tax has developed into a serious Division I prospect, using two arm angles (3/4 and side) and improving velocity to baffle hitters for both RCDS and his summer and fall club, the New York Nine. From everything I have heard and read, he has continued to flourish this summer after setting the single-season strikeout record at RCDS. Tax, if he gets there, would be the first Division I player in RCDS program history.

Anyway, give it a read and let me know what you think.

First, I hope everyone had a chance to check out our postseason honors. If not, you can find them by surfing this post.

Second, I’d just like to share a few links from when I was away. The wife and I celebrated our first anniversary over the weekend in DC, so I was out of town. Here’s what I missed:

— Final state rankings: Obviously, Mamaroneck finishes No. 1. Dobbs was No. 2 in B. Somers and Keio both finished fifth. The highest-ranked non-champs? Lakeland and Kennedy, which were No. 8 in Class A and B respectively.

— All-state picks: Sean Hagan of Mamaroneck (Class AA), Dan Zlotnick of Somers (Class A), Ryan Pennell of Rye Neck (Class B) and Kenta Miyoshi and Takaho Chubachi of Keio (Class C) were the Section 1 players who were named first-team all-state. Several more were honored, so click on the link above. … None of the local players were state players of the year, but Mike Chiapparelli took home his second straight Class AA coach of the year award.

— Sean Hagan wins athlete of the month award. It was a banner senior year for Hagan, who was the state hockey player of the year and Section 1’s pitcher of the year. Modell’s honored Hagan for his achievements on Monday at Yankee Stadium. He was named Modell’s Local Athlete of the Month.

— All-sports award debuts. The New York state sportswriters debut their rankings of athletic departments for the 2008-09 season. It focuses on results in state tournaments across all sports. Bronxville was ranked as the top Class B athletic department in the state this school year thanks to its incredible cross country and track programs and a state boys soccer championship. Mamaroneck finished third in Class AA thanks to its state baseball crown and Rye finished fourth in Class A thanks to its state football title. Mamaroneck also tied Orchard Park for first in Class AA in the boys-only rankings.

It’s an interesting idea anyway. Check it out. Jake wrote a story about the honors.

As I said yesterday, today is the debut of the Westchester/Putnam all-star and Rockland all-county teams in the newspaper and here on LoHud.com. Here are some quick details and some links:

WESTCHESTER/PUTNAM — Our player of the year was Matt McGovern of Mamaroneck. The senior finished his career strong, leading the Tigers to a second straight Class AA state championship with his play at the plate and on the mound. McGovern also received the top honor on this side of the river. He was named our athlete of the season for all sports.

Ted Huffman of Dobbs Ferry was named coach of the year after leading the Eagles to a surprising appearance in the Class B state final.

Here is the link to the rest of the Westchester/Putnam first-team all-stars, as well as the second-teamers and honorable mentions.

ROCKLAND — Our player of the year was Jim Brennan of Suffern. Before the senior was picked by the Tigers in the MLB draft, he led the Mounties both at the plate, in the field and on the mound.

Phil Carbone of Nanuet was named coach of the year. The Golden Knights finished the regular season 16-3.

Here is the link to the rest of the Rockland first-team all-county, as well as the second-teamers and honorable mentions.

There’s been some player of the year debate over the last 10 days or so. All of it comes to an end tomorrow when the Westchester/Putnam all-star team and the Rockland all-county team are both announced.

The POYs and the first-team, second-team and honorable-mention selections will all be published in tomorrow’s paper and on LoHud.com. I will post links to the all-star/all-county packages early in the morning.

A lot of thought goes into the selections every spring. I can tell you this year was no different. I constantly sift through information for about three weeks straight just to make sure it’s the best it can be. Obviously, it’s also the culmination of the high school season as well.

I’m just back from another brief trip, but I have a few things to share later today. Check back then.

Once all the first-team players have been chosen, the next job is to pick a player of the year. This year’s field was a bit deeper than in years past. I wasn’t sure who was going to be player of the year until the coaches and I picked one.

The last few years I knew in advance who was going to win. Robbie Aviles was so good last year that despite the great season by his teammate Jimmy Brennan he was a shoo-in. Same thing the year before that when Sean Giblin pitched Pearl River into the sectional final.

No Rockland teams even made a sectional final this year so there were few postseason heroes. Some guys had great regular seaosn numbers but had enough hiccups to put their candidacy in question.

At season’s end it was still very much up in the air. I studied the numbers and looked back at some big games and started to lean slightly in one direction. But I figured I’d see what the coaches thought before I made a call. If they strongly favored someone else I could be convinced. It turned out they liked the same guy I did. Problem solved.

Now it’s your chance to tell me what you think. I’m going to give you the list of four players who were my finalists. Make the call, and tell me why. Then place your vote in the poll to the right.

Robbie Aviles, Suffern, 1B/P

Jimmy Brennan, Suffern, CF/P

Dan Diaz, Nanuet, SS/P

Vinny Martorelli, North Rockland, C

Next up is the pitchers. Which three of these hurlers deserves all-county honors?

Robbie Aviles, Suffern
Dan Diaz, Nanuet
Phil Martino, North Rockland
Kevin Rocco, Nanuet
Frank Rosario, North Rockland
Mike Scarinci, Pearl River
John Tricario, Clarkstown South

We covered the infielders last week. With two days to go before the all-stars are revealed it’s time to move to the outfielders.

Which of the following guys deserves to be first-team all-county?

Jim Brennan, Suffern
Brendan Durkin, Suffern
Bryan Greig, Clarkstown South
Neil Guerriero, Nanuet
Ryan Kraemer, Tappan Zee
Bobby Siciliano, North Rockland
Ryan Sullivan, Albertus Magnus
Mike Velasquez, Albertus Magnus

As Jake noted, I was away for the week. Played a little golf, chauffered my brother around, hung out with the wife and went upstate to a cousin’s graduation. All in all, it was a solid break.

I hope you don’t think I forgot about you. So, to account for my absence, I hope to launch what should be one of the more spirited debates of the spring/summer.

To the right I have posted a poll with 16 candidates for our honor as the Westchester/Putnam baseball player of the year. You can vote for your choice (or add one of your own), and I encourage you to do so. Also, please write in and let us know why you chose who you chose. Next week Jake will follow with a number of candidates for the big award in Rockland, and that will lead us into July 10, when this spring’s special section drops.

One quick warning: Let’s keep it positive. A few of you used the time while I was away to criticize a few of the summer coaches in the area. 1) This is not the place to vent those frustrations, and 2) This is not the place to bash people, period.

Please keep your comments focused on baseball. Thanks.

Here are some candidates:

Joe Arena, Lakeland
Anthony Corona, Kennedy
Jon Cosenza, Lakeland
Zack Graczyk, Carmel
Sean Hagan, Mamaroneck
Matt McGovern, Mamaroneck
Mike Mercurio, Kennedy
Kenta Miyoshi, Keio
Anthony Muccio, Stepinac
Ryan Pennell, Rye Neck
T.J. Olesczuk, Hen Hud
Mike Rosenfeld, Mamaroneck
Mike Swerdloff, Ardsley
Mike Volpe, Carmel
Kyle Woltersdorf, Somers
Dan Zlotnick, Somers

Chuck Alben of Saunders is the Section 1 coach of the year, as determined by his peers. Alben made Saunders into a legit team, surprising many. It was the first Yonkers team in years to be considered a real threat outside the league.

Here is the complete list of Diamond 9 players. These are the players that best combine academics, baseball, and community service, as determined by the section.

Greg Bratone, Pelham
Matt deSilva, Hen Hud
Nick Modico, Kennedy
Taylor Mondshein, Mamaroneck
Dan Sorine, Eastchester
Mike Swerdloff, Ardsley
Eric Windsor, Mamaroneck
Dylan Marshall, Ardsley
Bobby Siciliano, North Rockland
Luke Devlin, Bronxville

Honorable mention
Timothy Orr, Briarcliff
Ryan Sullivan, Albertus Magnus
Andrew Nickoletos, Eastchester
Daniel Gillet, Briarcliff
Ian Lindsay, New Rochelle
Anthony D’Angelo, New Rochelle