Most teams have just crossed the mid-point of the 2010 season, so here is a quick look at how the regular season pennant races are shaping up. (I hope to do the same with softball soon).

Basically, teams need a .500 record in league play to qualify for the playoffs. There are, however, some exceptions. Take, for example, a team like Averill Park, a Class A school in a mostly Class AA league. Every win against a Class AA team counts doubly for Averill Park, so they need just four wins in league play against larger teams to make the eight-win cutoff.

The same goes for all schools playing teams in a larger classification during league play.

For the full rules, read the Section II baseball handbook by clicking here.

Big 10 Conference

LaSalle, 7-1, 9-2
C.B.A., 7-1, 9-1
Troy, 5-2, 5-3
Catholic Central, 5-3, 8-4
Schenectady, 4-4, 5-5
Amsterdam, 3-5, 3-7
Albany, 2-5, 2-5
Bishop Maginn, 2-6, 2-9
Bishop Gibbons, 1-7, 2-8

It looks like CBA and La Salle will be battling it out for the title, but Troy and CCHS aren't out of the race yet, either. La Salle and CBA play again on Friday, May 14. The game may be played at Joe Bruno Stadium rather than at CBA. We'll keep you posted when that becomes official.

Schenectady and Amsterdam are also looking like playoff-bound squads.

Suburban Council

North Division
Shenendehowa, 8-1, 8-1
Saratoga Springs, 7-2, 8-4
Shaker, 7-2, 8-3
Niskayuna, 5-4, 7-3
Burnt Hills, 4-5, 7-5
Ballston Spa, 2-6, 3-8

South Division
Averill Park, 5-4, 6-6
Colonie, 5-4, 8-5
Columbia, 5-4, 6-5
Guilderland, 5-4, 6-6
Bethlehem, 1-8, 2-9
Mohonasen, 0-9, 0-10

It is going to be a great race to the finish in the South Division as all four of the teams tied at 5-4 are solid squads. Shaker and Saratoga will be chasing Shen in the North. And don't count out Niskayuna, because the Silver Warriors handed Shen its first loss last week.

Colonial Council

Schalmont, 8-0, 10-2
Lansingburgh, 7-1, 7-4
Albany Academy, 5-2, 7-2
Mechanicville, 5-3, 7-4
Cohoes, 3-5, 4-7
Watervliet, 2-5, 2-6
Voorheesville, 1-5, 4-6
Ravena, 1-6, 1-8
Cobleskill, 1-6, 1-9

There are four clear tiers of teams in the Colonial this year. Lansingburgh and Schalmont will battle it out for the title unless either one slips up. Academy and Mechanicville will be fighting for third place. Cohoes and Watervliet will be trying to reach the .500 mark and qualify for the postseason.

Wasaren League

Greenwich, 6-0, 10-1
Granville, 5-1, 8-1
Schuylerville, 4-1, 9-1
Hoosick Falls, 4-2, 6-2
Hoosic Valley, 2-3, 4-5
Cambridge, 2-4, 3-6
Tamarac, 1-6, 2-8
Stillwater, 0-7, 1-8

Greenwich, as expected, stands on top of the league at the midway point, but Granville, Schuylerville and Hoosick Falls all have title hopes as well.

Hoosic Valley and Cambridge can't be counted out.

Patroon Conference

Ichabod Crane, 6-0, 7-1
Catskill, 3-1, 5-1
Chatham, 4-2, 7-3
Cairo, 4-2, 5-4
Coxsackie, 3-3, 5-4
Hudson, 2-2, 2-4
Greenville, 2-4, 2-5
Maple Hill, 1-5, 2-6
Taconic Hills, 1-5, 2-5

The Riders, as the lone Class A team in the Patroon, are making one last title push before they head to the Colonial Council along with Fonda-Fultonville next year. Maple Hill is a long shot to qualify for the postseason and defend its Class C state title in 2010.

Central Hudson Valley League

Waterford, 5-1, 5-2
Rensselaer, 2-1, 2-4
New Lebanon, 1-2, 1-4
Germantown, 0-0, 1-1
Heatly, 1-2, 2-2
Loudonville Christian, 0-1, 2-2
Berlin, 0-2, 0-5
Doane Stuart, 0-3, 0-3

Waterford and first-year CHVL entry Rensselaer are the favorites to win the league title in 2010.