By Mike Zummo
The Marlboro Iron Dukes won their first Section 9 championship since 2019 this past spring season, and they were rewarded with two players being named Section 9 Class A honors and with coach John Morrissey being named Coach of the Year by his colleagues around the section.
The Dukes finished the season with a 15-6 record that saw their season end in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association regional championship game against Section 4 champion Union Endicott.
They won the Mid Hudson Athletic League Division II and then won the MHAL championship with a win over Spackenkill, which went on to win the NYSPHSAA Class B championship.
The sectional top-seeded Marlboro posted two-walkoff victories in the sectional playoffs to win the championship.
Pitcher and outfielder John Ryder and pitcher and outfielder Tommy Benfer were named sectional all-stars.
Beacon catcher Liam Murphy has been named Class A player of the year.
Highland, which saw its season end at Spackenkill’s hands in the Section 9 Class B semifinals had two players – second baseman A.J. Grant and utility man and pitcher Connor Gemmell named to the Class B all-star team.
Spackenkill’s pitcher and center fielder Dan Collins was Class B Player of the Year and Spackenkill coach Dan Collins was named Coach of the Year.
Other players of the year include Newburgh’s Chase Rounds (Class AAA), Wallkill’s Kyle DeGroat (Class AA), John S. Burke Catholic’s Mason Gove (Class C) and Eldred’s Joshua Warming (Class D).