Vito Errico, this year's recipient of the Sandy Byrne Award as the Mineola Athletic Association's volunteer of the year, was honored with volunteers from 41 other clubs at the Long Island Junior Soccer League's March 6 annual awards dinner at the Huntington Hilton Hotel in Melville.

Errico coached the Mineola Red Heat under-11 boys' travel team to a 4-4-2 record in the spring of 1997 and an 8-2 mark last fall. He also organized a successful candy sale to defray the cost of the team's sweatsuits. Errico is a graduate of Mineola High School and played high-level club soccer until a broken leg ended his career. He runs a bakery in the village and can often be found talking soccer with friends in the back room while making cakes and cookies.

Errico rarely if ever misses a practice. He frequently drives players to games. For the past few years, he has served in various capacities with the MAA, sitting on the executive board and handling such matters as lining the fields, booking referees and ruling on protests. Along with Fred and Marianne Wachter, Dolores Jose and Carlos Peralta, Errico has helped the MAA soccer program thrive. He is a great community resource who truly deserves the title "Mr. Soccer" in Mineola.

The LIJSL gave sportsmanship awards to Frank McGuinness and Assistant Ed Lamm, who coached the U-14 Mineola Angels last season and Bob Walker and Assistant Jim Hock, who coached the U-13 girls' travel team.

In other MAA news:

* John Strein was this year's recipient of the 32nd Joe Bruno Award as MAA baseball's volunteer of the year. For the past few years, Strein has been the glue holding the program together. He has tirelessly given of his time as baseball president, umpire, liaison with village officials, member of the MAA executive board and MAA representative at district and LI-wide meetings. When nobody else stepped up this year, Strein realized what was obvious to everybody else in MAA: since he is our most respected baseball volunteer, he was the obvious choice to return as baseball president.

* Scott Strauss reports that team 5 of the boys' minor soccer division won its first two games 2-0 and 4-0. Team members include: goalie Tommy Bayne, defenders Michael Castellana, Brian Hayt, James Pastoressa and Peter Pietruczuk and forwards Brendan Ehrling, Reid Rosello, Bobby Port and Bryan Strauss. John Urbank played well in goal in the second game.

Coaches wishing to have information in this column are urged to fax articles to 741-9150 or deliver them to 380 Bauer Place. MAA Recording Secretary Jim Smith will coordinate publicity for all teams.