by Bob Nelson
We take the opportunity this week to introduce you to some of the remaining teams of the spring season. You will learn about the boys varsity volleyball team, the JV baseball team, and the boys JV lacrosse team. Also, coach Vitale, of the girls varsity softball team, has submitted a summary of the season thus far. Hear what she has to say about her team, and their standings. First, the team profiles:
| Head Coach Profile: | Peter Hutchinson |
| HS Attended: | Harborfields HS, Greenlawn, NY |
| College Attended: | Penn State University |
| Tell Us About Yourself: | Health and physical education major at Penn State, former volleyball player at Penn State, certified volleyball coach by USA Volleyball, head coach, Mustang volleyball for past four years, member of American Volleyball Coaches Association. |
| Coaching Style and Philosophy: | Volleyball requires that every player know how to effectively play every position. |
| Returning Players: | - Joe Beirne - developing as outside hitter.
- Alex Keblish - setter (fourth year player).
- Tom Munson - defense/setter - strive winner last year.
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| Expectations for the season: | Rebuilding year. Graduated four starters including All County David Kim and two-time All County Henry Klein. |
| "Hot" Newcomers: | Jon Zenir - returning after a year's hiatus. |
| Coaching Staff: | Head Coach - Barry Silverstein.
Asst. Coach - Chris Friedel (middle school coach). Varsity head coach |
| HS Attended Barry Silverstein attended: | Lawrence High School |
| College Attended: | SUNY Old Westbury |
| Tell Us About Yourself: | Currently plays for a semi-pro baseball team in Nassau County. One year left to earn a degree in elementary education. |
| Coaching Style and Philosophy: | Very aggressive - likes to run! Success, however, is based on defensive skills. |
| Returning Players: | - Peter Teemsma, captain, team leader.
- Owen Dugan, hard worker, never quits.
- Billy Liakonic, works hard, solid up the middle.
- Gerard Strein, utility player, can play four or five different positions.
- Bryan Gabriel, missed entire season last year. Will step up into starting lineup.
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| Expectations for the season: | We are a very young team. We have only five returning sophomore players and 12 freshmen. The freshmen will have to step up and play hard. |
| "Hot" Newcomers: | Freshmen John Debrich, John Sullivan, Steve Brunn, Brian Sallie, Patrick Leung will make up 80 percent of the pitching staff. |
| Players to Watch: | - Peter Teemsma - third base #20
- John Debrich - catcher #15
- John Sullivan - second base and s.s. #11
- Steve Bruno - pitcher and outfield #7
- Brian Sallie - pitcher and first base #2
- Gerard Strein - pitcher, s.s. and second base #19
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| Head Coach Profile: | Glenn Cocoman |
| H.S. Attended: | Division Avenue HS - Levittown |
| College Attended: | University of Notre Dame |
| Tell us about yourself: | This is my seventh year coaching lacrosse, but my first year in the Mineola district. I am a new teacher at the middle school. I played my high school ball at Levittown and went on to play at Notre Dame. My first five years coaching were in Levittown on the JV and varsity level. Last year I taught and coached at Glen Cove High School. |
| Coaching Style and Philosophy: | I stress a defensive style because you don't need great skills to play defense, just hustle and desire. Most JV teams lack good stick skills so you must work on them in practice, but there they must work on their own. This is why I stress defense and controlling the ball on offense. |
| Returning Players: | - James McQueen (captain) - Defensive midfield; big, strong and fast; natural leader.
- Dan Passarella - Good offensive player. Face off Monday.
- Basilio Reyes (captain) - Strong goaltender, good leader.
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| Expectations for the season: | This is a very inexperienced team with only three sophomores and 17 ninth-graders. They have not experienced a lot of success in lacrosse in the past, so the first thing to do is develop a good work ethic and then worry about wins and losses. Hopefully, we will have a .500 record and each player will personally improve. |
| "Hot" Newcomers: | - Drew Wachter - 9th grade. Has good stick skills and a good feel for the game.
- Hernando Gauto - 9th grade. Great on the ground balls.
- Pedro Oliviera - 9th grade. Good goaltender.
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| Players to Watch: | - Drew Wachter - attack
- Dan Passarella - midfield
- James McQueen - defensive midfield
- Basilio Reyes - goaltender
- Pedro Oliviera - goaltender
- Hernando Gauto - midfield
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by Coach Suzanne Vitale
Since the start of the '98 season, the varsity softball team sits tied for second place with a league record of three wins and two losses (five wins and two losses overall).
In 47 innings, Katie Zunno has struck out 89 batters while walking only 14. Kristen Cusato leads all batters with an average of .409, followed by Leslie Brown with .407.
The team has outscored their opponents 50 - 9 and holds a team batting average of .321.
After a successful 12 - 0 victory over Plainedge, the team suffered two tough losses to Island Trees 1 - 0 and also to North Shore 3 - 1. However, the Mustangs bounced back with thrashings of South Side 3 - 0, Carey 9 - 3, Garden City 11 - 2 and Bayside, Queens 14 - 0.
The last two weeks in April will be a telltale sign for the remaining season. The Lady Mustangs will play five games in those weeks. Two games against a tough division (currently in first place), MacArthur and team rivals Island Trees, who have defeated the Mustangs by only one run in their last three meetings. It should be an exciting end to the already successful season.
