The 1998 Great Neck South Varsity Baseball Season was a success. At the conclusion of the campaign, several players received awards. The Nassau County High School Baseball Coaches Association rewarded three individuals. The highest honor was bestowed upon senior Francis Lindo. He was named All-County. Lindo led the Rebels in batting average with a .450 mark as well as topping the team in on-base percentage at a .520 clip. This was the second consecutive season Lindo was chosen All-County. Lindo plans to attend State University of New York at Buffalo where there is no baseball program, but hopes to play on the soccer team.

Junior Matthew Brustien was named All-Conference. He was the ace of the pitching staff. Brustien finished the year with a 7-3 record. In 58 innings, Matthew struck out 76 batters and pitched to a 2.41 earned run average while picking off eight base runners.

Jon Isopo, a senior, was selected All-Division. The powerful first baseman led the club in home runs with three, and runs batted in, with 20. Isopo has received a scholarship from C.W. Post to play football in the fall.

The annual spring sports awards night at South included Lindo, Brustien and Isopo, but there was an additional recipient. Manager Neil Gederberg handed out his Coach's Award. He gave the honor to senior second baseman Douglas Klein. Klein played outstanding defense and was a leader all season, as well as topping the team in triples and finishing second in RBIs. Gederberg pointed out how Douglas constantly played through injuries and showed the type of attitude he wished he had in all his players. Klein will attend Dowling College where he was signed to play hardball next year.

The team's success was achieved with important contributions from senior Dave Castellano and all of the following young men who will return next spring: Danny Abrahams stole over 20 bases and covered all the ground in centerfield; Greg Dolinsky made big game start and came through at the plate; Glen Fratangelo seemed to always come up with the clutch hit; Taylor Shapiro, dramatic improvement during season behind plate and at-bat; Sam Silverstein, Jon Simon and Lee Rieger.

An additional post-season honor was achieved by Matthew Brustien. He earned a spot on the Long Island entry to the Empire State Games. Brustien is one of 18 players chosen to represent both Nassau and Suffolk Counties in what amounts to the annual New York State High School Olympics. This year's event takes place in Rochester from July 22 through 26.