The few...the proud...the North Shore Vikings 2001 baseball team! How better to describe this intrepid band of 12 athletes who have forged a 13-5 regular season record and were victorious in their playoff encounter. Perhaps the world "versatile" would fill out the picture, because their ability to cover two and three positions came to the fore when confronted with their team mates unavailability due to injury, etcetera, etcetera.

The Viking's season set sail on a less than encouraging note with the March 31 vandalism of their soggy field by an as yet unidentified miscreant in a pickup truck, forcing the relocation of the home schedule to the Glenwood Landing Field. This note was echoed by an opening season defeat to Seaford High caused by a series of fielding miscues in the latter innings. Revenge was had in short order upon those Vikings from the Southern Shore with a victory in the return match. Thus began the Norsemen's rampage through the Class B Conference V/VI. Highlights of the regular season would include the only victory posted this year against the No. 1 playoff seed Island Trees on May 8, the 6-5 win over local rivals Glen Cove on the evening of May 5 under the lights before a capacity crowd at City Stadium, and the coronation of senior Ray Chaputian as the Homerun King of Long Island with 11 round trippers.

Seeded 9th in the Class B post season tournament, the Vikings are in the single elimination bracket. They played their first round game this past Saturday, May 19 at home against New Hyde Park. The Vikings placed the ball and their hopes in the hands of pitcher Ross Tesoriero, who in turn responded with a gem, striking out 9 batters and yielding only 5 hits. A tense 1-1 struggle was decided in the bottom of the 4th inning when the Vikings broke through with a 4 run rally, highlighted by Jeff Vitale's two run double. The final score: North Shore 6, New Hyde Park 1. The next opponent on their plate is Plainedge High, first round losers to MacArthur.

In what may very well be Coach Metzger's final season as baseball coach, the team has jelled admirably. Starting pitchers Chaputian, Tesoriero, and Josh Micelotta have been occasionally brilliant and usually dominating. The defense, with rare lapses, has been stellar. Around the horn from 3rd base with senior Darren Vassallo, Frank Guidici at short, the Chaputian Boys at second (Ray and Doug), and senior Joe Pizatowski at first, the infield play continues to be crisp and focused. The outfield, anchored by centerfielder Andre Moskowitz, senioir Michael Kurz in left, and senior Chris Pombar, joined by Tesoriero, in right made a habit of turning doubles into singles and hits into outs. The backstop duties have been shared superbly by Vitale and Micelotta. Billy Lempenski and Paul Carleton contributed significantly as reserves. The hard work and steady hand of Coach Metzger and Assistant Coach Dom Gatti combined with the commitment and dedication of the players have yielded a season worth savoring and a team that serves North Shore High's storied baseball tradition well.