North Team Looks Ahead

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North Team Looks Ahead

Written by Andy Newman Friday, 22 March 2013 00:00

An obvious goal for Great Neck North High School’s baseball team this season is to wipe away the memory of last year’s 1-18 record and coach James Bailin doesn’t feel that his Blazers will have any trouble doing so.

Bailin, starting his second season as head coach after being North’s assistant for six years, is confident that the team is much improved. “We’ve got a lot of young talent,” he said. “It was no surprise that we struggled last year. We had a rough schedule and we had four freshman and one sophomore starting during the last part of the season.” The Blazers won the second game on their schedule last spring and then lost all of the rest. “We aim to erase that,” said the coach, referring to the losing streak. “ We’d like to put that to rest.” Joining the team this year is assistant coach Lloyd Sussman, a graduate of North and the University of Maryland. Sussman was a first baseman for the Blazers.

“I keep telling my players that we can change,” Bailin added. “We can be a playoff team again soon.” The Blazers last made the playoffs in 2010 with a 12-2 record. “We have a good group of kids who really believe that we can turn it around,” he said. “Now we’re getting the right kids to come out, the ones who are really interested in being here every day even though they’re under a lot of pressure academically. They’re here every day because they want to be. They want to get better. They want to learn and they want to work hard. So many of them play all year round and want to play college baseball too.”

“We have so much talent now in our ninth and tenth graders,” added Bailin. “This team has as much young talent as any team we’ve had in the past nine years. I know we can make it back to the playoffs eventually. It depends on how well they develop.”

Bailin’s No. 1 starter is a senior, right-hander Brad Rutkin, who also plays shortstop. Shawn Kaiman, a junior, is also a starter and was the winning pitcher in last year’s only victory. The third starter is sophomore Zack Schreiber. Jake Guggenheimer, only a freshman, will share catching duties with senior Anthony Solis who also plays outfield. Winston Zhong, David Neissani, Logan Diamond and Mitchell Schwartz are also seniors who fill out some of the fielding positions. Of the six senior players, Bailin says, “I’m depending on them to be great influences on our young kids.”

While Bailin hasn’t decided on who will play second base, he’s well set at the other positions. Tyler Weiss, a sophomore who played every inning of every game last year, will again be at third. Schwartz will play some first base, outfield and also pitch on occasion. Ross Crames, claims the coach, was one of the top center fielders in the county last year as a freshman. He made just one error in 53 chances. Sophomore Troy Fritzhand will be in left and Hunter Bines, a transfer from Manhasset High School, will be in right field. Fritzhand’s brother, Tyler, a junior, will be the designated hitter.

News

ERASE Racism Benefit

Saturday, 18 May 2013 00:00

Arda Haratunian An Organizer

Manhasset resident Arda Nazerian Haratunian is lending her expertise and support to ERASE Racism, a civil rights non-profit that advocates for racial equity on Long Island. As a member of its planning committee for the third year in a row, she is helping to organize ERASE Racism’s Annual Benefit Celebration, which will take place on June 5 at the Garden City Hotel.

A strategic communications consultant, Arda has more than 25 years experience in both the private and public sectors. She most recently served as senior policy advisor and communications director to former Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi and previously worked for New York Governor Mario Cuomo. During the decade between her two careers in public service, Arda was on Wall Street, serving as managing director of global corporate communications for Citigroup’s Corporate and Investment Bank and before that, head of media and public relations at the American Stock Exchange.

Manhasset Florist & Greenhouse

There is a floral treasure in Manhasset, something unique: it’s the greenhouse in front of Manhasset Florist on Orchard Street. “Having my own greenhouse ensures premium plant growth and creates optimum conditions. This allows me to offer the healthiest plants to my customers,” says owner Alexander Otis. Indeed, the plants look truly perfect and a delightful scent of blossoms fills the air of the greenhouse.

“My father bought the business and property 45 years ago. During those years, he opened a total of five flower shops in Nassau County,” said Alex. His father trained him and his sister Aretta in the flower business. “While still attending high school we both helped on Saturdays and during our vacations,” he explains. Alex graduated from the New York Institute of Technology as an architect and worked as an engineer for over six years before returning to his roots to help his father manage his five flower shops and to run one, Garden City Florist. “When my father retired in 1999, I took over Manhasset Florist & Greenhouse and Aretta took over Port Washington Florist.”

Sports

Victorious In Opening Manhasset Valley Park Game

Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00

Logan Hyde pitching. One of Manhasset’s 12U intramural baseball teams defeated Great Neck in the first game played at the renovated Valley Park field on Saturday April 27. Manhasset’s offense scored 10 runs, including a home run from Devin Callery, while pitchers Logan Hyde, Jeff Torborg, James Marchetti and Grant Petracca combined to limit Great Neck to one hit with 11 strikeouts in six innings. Edward Jarvis, Robert DeCastro, Massimo Abruzzo, Colby Schmidt, Gabriel Cohen, Spencer Kaye and Justin Louie each contributed quality defensive plays. Manhasset raised its record to 4-0 and stands in first place in the inter-town intramural league, which includes 8 teams from Merillon, Albertson-Herricks, Great Neck and Manhasset.

JV Ice Hockey Team Finishes The Season

Wednesday, 15 May 2013 10:34

The Manhasset Junior Varsity Ice Hockey Team finished their season Wednesday night, April 17, beating Bellmore/Merrick 4-3 in the championship game at the Bethpage Community Park Ice Rink. Wednesday’s finale marked the end of an impressive campaign by the Indians which included a 19-1 regular season record and a trip to the New York State Championship in Ithaca.

Manhasset got off to a strong start scoring four times in the first period on goals by Michael Walsh, Michael Brzozowski, Mario De Bueriis, and Matthew Cecchini whose tally would prove to be the game winner. Nolan Behringer, Ryan Kiess, and goaltender Alex Feinstein led the defense in shutting down a powerful Bellmore/Merrick squad, securing Manhasset’s first ever Junior Varsity Championship.