The Island Trees Boys Varsity Basketball team was well represented this year at the Nassau County Basketball Awards Dinner. This year the team had three award recipients who immediately gave credit to their teammates for their individual success. For the second year in a row, Damon Moore received All Conference honors and was credited as being one of Conference B's premier point guards. Not only did this young man excel offensively, shooting better than 40 percent from three, dishing out about five assists per game, while only committing one turnover, he was an outstanding defender who sparked the Bulldog's press. Also, for only the third time in the school's history, a player received All Tournament honors and this player was Jonathan Squigna. In the County Tournaments, Squigna stepped up to score close to 20 points in each of the Bulldog's playoff wins, mainly by hitting really big free throws at the end of the game. It seemed like he wanted the ball in crunch time and he responded. Last, but not least, receiving All County honors only as a junior, Gerard VanLeuvan. Simply put, Gerard was one of the most dangerous offensive players in the county and that's why he received this honor. Everyone Island Trees played throughout the year seemed to create a game plan just to stop him and more times than not, it proved to be a very difficult task. As the coach of the Bulldogs, Coach Baierlein would like to once again congratulate this fine group of athletes on a memorable season. As a team, they stepped up at the right time and came together.

Well, it's already April and the Lady Bulldogs of Island Trees are still trying to convince Mother Nature that it's time to play softball. The weather has just been brutal, snow, rain and freezing temperatures has all but put a stop to our preseason games. After long and grueling practices indoors, the Lady Dawgs are raring to go. A lot of new faces on the softball diamond this year. After graduating one of Long Island's best pitchers in Jamie Pietrantoni and the entire team behind her, Coach Logan and Coach Price have their work cut out for them. Leading the way this year will be junior hurler Chrissy DeMott. She will more than hold her own and keep Island Trees softball at the level it is used to playing. Also coming back off a season full of injuries is senior catcher Jaclyn Habermehl. If we can keep her healthy, there won't be many stolen bases in Levittown. Three other seniors will be counted on a lot this year. They are first baseman Sandy Baglivo, third baseman Carol Lehmann and centerfielder Kristen Mullervy. Some key positions will be held by juniors this year as well. Erin Ludewig and Liz Dinolfo have earned the starting spots at second and short stop. Junior Kristen Schafer will fill an outfield spot, while sophomores Rebecca Santoriello, Erin Dodge, Jamie Zetterberg, Jen Grella, Erin Carroll, Corinne Vinberg and Tasha Weinmann will complete the roster.

The season opened with a non-league contest with Carle Place. A 2-1 victory is just what the Lady Dawgs needed. A great game by Chrissy DeMott, allowing just two hits while striking out 13. The offense was provided by sophomore Rebecca Santoriello. She went 2 for 2 with a walk, a RBI and a run scored.

Next up was the home opener against the Lady Generals of MacArthur High School. An outstanding game it was. Once again Chrissy DeMott was outstanding. Allowing just two hits, striking out eight. All of the runs the girls needed were scored in the first inning. Junior Erin Ludewig and senior Jaclyn Habermehl had back to back hits scoring all three runs. Spectacular defense by the middle infielders finished the game with a great double play. Final score was 3-0 Island Trees.

On the road to Seaford High School the team went. Expecting another pitchers' duel, that's just what Island Trees got. Chrissy DeMott was once again outstanding allowing just three hits, while striking out nine. Great defense by Carol Lehmann and Liz Dinolfo was all they needed. The Lady Dawgs got three runs in the second inning on a perfect bunt by Erin Dodge that was mishandled by the defense. Final score Island Trees 3 Seaford 0.

Next up was a long bus ride to Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park. This game proved a lot closer than Island Trees thought. Chrissy DeMott got the win, while striking out 12 and scattering six hits, she also hit a two-run homerun scoring leadoff batter Liz Dinolfo ahead of her. Super defense by centerfielder Kristen Mullervy saved the game many times. She earned the defensive star of that game. Final score Island Trees 4 Sewanhaka 3.

Record stands at 4-0, off to a great start and looking to improve each day.

The Girls JV Softball team defeated Sewanhaka by a score of 16-8. Nikki Pena pitched three solid innings striking out four batters. Eighth grader Michelle McGurk pitched the last four innings to cap the win. Offensively the whole team did an outstanding job hitting the balls in the outfield. In the field, great plays were made by Lisa Provenzano, Danielle Baglivo, Jess Kilfoil and Mary Seremeta. Shannon McAdam saved all wild pitches and had two great plays with the pitcher making two outs at home. The girls are now 2-1.

Michael Cavalcante struck out 12 Jericho hitters to lead the Bulldogs to a 5-0 victory in the opening game of the 2001 season. Cavalcante gave up two hits in the second inning and did not allow another hit over the final five innings. The usually explosive Bulldog batters were relatively quiet today. The Bulldogs led 2-0 before scoring three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Michael Cavalcante's one out single drove in Matt Ostrowski, who had led the inning off with a single. Later in the inning Greg Thomson doubled in two runs to put the game out of reach. The Bulldogs tallied nine stolen bases in the afternoon.

The Bulldogs completed a two-game sweep of the Jericho Jayhawks with an 11-3 win. Island Trees struck early and often, tallying two runs in each of the first four innings and three runs in the fifth. Danny Beale set the tone for the day with a leadoff bunt single in the first. Beale finished the day 3-4 with three runs scored, two RBI's and two stolen bases. Chris Mason also had a fine day at the plate by reaching base four times. Mason had 1-2 and three walks and he also scored twice.

John Zarrelli earned his first varsity win by pitching the first four innings. Zarrelli scattered five hits while striking out two and walking two. Senior Bryan Mercer pitched the last three innings and earned a save. Mercer had his knuckle drop dancing as he struck out four Jericho hitters.

The JV Baseball team won its season opener with a victory over Jericho by a score of 15-3. Chauncey Garcia had a great day going 4 for 5 with four RBI's and four stolen bases. Anthony Thompson pitched six innings allowing only four hits and one walk.