Fifteen varsity players and two coaches were suspended from the Massapequa High School baseball team last week after the district received an anonymous letter from a player's parent about a late-night visit to a Florida strip club during a spring break trip.

The trip to Sassy Merlot's 2 in Cocoa Beach was made during two hours of unsupervised time allowed by the school district. Merlot's requires patrons to be 18 or older. All but two of the players involved were underage.

According to District Superintendent Dr. Lawrence Pereira, the allegation has been investigated and building principal James Maloney has informed parents of possible action to be taken by the district.

Pereira has held conferences with each parent to give him or her an opportunity to provide information and to react to the high school's position. Now that those conferences have ended, parents have the right to appeal the determination of the high school.

All 15 have chosen to appeal, according to Pereira, and he said he expects to complete those appeals within the next few days. After considering the comments and concerns of parents, Pereira said he expects to render a final decision regarding whether or not the 15 students will be suspended.

As far as he is aware, Pereira said, no civil suits have been brought against the school.

On the athletic side, Pereira said he is adhering to the Athletic Code of Conduct. Accordingly, students have been given non-participation status, which is temporary until the investigation is completed and final determination is made.

Head coach Bob Dell, who has coached for the past 43 years, the last 13 at Massapequa, and assistant coach Tom Sheedy were relieved of their coaching positions for the remainder of the season, and Sheedy was also suspended from his teaching duties in the district.

"On this trip the coaches had the primary responsibility to provide adequate supervision," Pereira said.

Dell could not be reached for comment.

Six players not involved in the incident - four of whom were in Cocoa Beach, two who did not make the trip, would be allowed to continue with the season.

Massapequa (6-6 overall, 6-4 Nassau Conference AA-I) canceled the game immediately following the incident against John F. Kennedy High School in Plainview and is considering whether to bring up junior varsity players to continue the season.

"Massapequa has a long and proud history in athletics. I am hoping we can resolve this incident as quickly as possible and as fairly as possible," Pereira said.