By John Cloghessy Mineola businessman Frank Massaro has been very involved in helping local youth over the years. One of the things Massaro does every year is hold an evening of fun that raises money for summer athletic camp scholarships for local athletes. Massaro played at Mineola High School and now coaches too. He continues to give to his hometown. The annual benefit will take place on Friday, May 17, at the Cornerstone Pub and Restaurant, located at the corner of Jericho Tpke. and Marcellus Road, from 7 to 11 p.m. the admission is $10 at the door. That includes a buffet dinner and a free drink. The evening will include a raffle, 50-50, prizes and lots of fun singing to the karaoke machine. It's a good chance to help the Mineola High School sports program and a good night for alumni to gather as well and catch up on all the gossip. The Mineola High School varsity softball team has battled its way into the thick of the race in Conference III-C. The Lady Mustangs owned a 4 and 2 League Mark as the calendar turned from April to May. The overall record was 7-and-6. Since last we heard from the Mineola Nine, they dropped a tough 4-3 decision to Cold Spring Harbor. After falling behind 4-0, Mineola put together a 3-run rally, but fell short. Melissa Hock drove in two runs while Liz Torezo knocked in the other. The next day, Mineola again lost a game it could have won, falling at Garden City 6-4. Hock had two hits and drove in a pair of runs while Kristina Zunno also had a RBI. Jill Tognelli had two hits in a losing effort. The next day, the Lady Mustangs had to play again on a fourth straight day of unseasonably hot weather, with temperatures reaching near or above 90 all week. But, relief came at the wrong time. With Mineola leading 4-3 in the 5th inning, the heat wave was broken by thunderstorms, which suspended the game. When it was completed the next week, Bethpage looked like a different team, snatching a 7-4 win. Maureen Cloghessy had two hits in the game while Hock drove in two of the runs. Mineola finally broke through with three consecutive wins. The first came in a tight 2-0 decision at Jericho. Cloghessy had two hits and drive in one of the runs while Alex Vega had a hit and drove in his second run. Zunno had three hits in the victory, while pitcher Kristen Raffetto struck out eight and walked none. That was followed by the Ladies rolling past Carle Place 9-1. Vega drove in three runs. Vicky Russo and Melissa Skupp each had three hits while Maureen Cloghessy had two. Raffetto struck out six Frogs in getting the win. That was it for the blowouts. The next win Mineola earned. Raffetto hurled a complete game two-hitter and struck out seven as the Mustangs held on to edge Wantagh 1-0. The visitors had the tying run on third base with two outs and Alex Vega made a running catch of a sinking line drive to finish off the game and the win.

The Mineola girls varsity lacrosse team continues to improve and move ever closer to a victory in its first season in League 1. North Shore broke out to a 2-0 lead. But 12 minutes into the game, the Mustangs had rallied to take a 4-3 lead on a goal from Lauren Anderson. But, the visitors put on their own comeback and took a 9-7 lead into halftime. Mineola got two goals early in the second half from Danielle Adams and Maryanne Georgeou to tie the game at 9 apiece. North Shore answered big time by seven unanswered goals to take the lead for good. Georgeou scored the final goal of the game in a 16-10 loss. North Shore's defensive adjustments kept Mineola from getting many scoring chances. Mineola played the game without four key players. Goaltender Allyson Murphy, along with Alison Auriemmo, Amy Kemmler and Nikole Tsabasis were attending a school trip. Five junior varsity players were elevated to the varsity for the game. Coach Katie Sheehan said Jessica Antonison, Caitlyn Herrere, Liz Kocienda, Filomena Palumbo and Jennifer Pirrone did an outstanding job. Melissa Dadich also made her first start in goal and stopped 12 shots for a save percentage of 45. Danielle Adams and Alison Carnabuci each had three goals in the game. Georgeou scored twice while Lauren Anderson and Vikki Montalbano each had a goal.

The four players on the school trip missed the next game as well and Mineola dropped a 12-5 non-league decision to East Meadow. The Jets opened a 7-0 lead. Aalison Carnabuci and Georgeou each scored two goals. Adams had one. Dadich again started in goal. But, freshman Jessica Antonison also saw her first varsity action. She stopped seven shots and had a save percentage of 58.

The Mineola High School Junior Varsity Baseball Team has run its record to 6-2. Coach Barry Silverstein says he had a great mix of sophomores and freshmen. Mineola opened its season with a 6-5 loss to Wantagh. The Mustangs displayed opening-game jitters by committing eight errors. Sophomore Dan Medlock had a 2-for4 day at the plate and stole three bases. Freshman Pat Gaffney made his first high school start a good one. He had two hits. Mineola came back to handle Wantagh the next game 7-1. Joe Wissler pitched a complete game five-hitter. He helped his own cause with two hits and drove in four runs. Mike Bencivenga had a hit, walked twice and stole three bases.

Mineola found new competition to its liking in the season's third game. The Mustangs manhandled West Hempstead 14-2. Freshman Tom Owens benefits from the offensive barrage, earning his first high school win on the mound. Mineola opened the game by scoring 11 times in the first inning. Pat Gaffney had two hits and opened the game by scoring 11 times in the first inning. Pat Gaffney had two hits and drove in three runs. Mike Destefano had three hits, drove in three runs and scored three times while Captain Peter Averaimo had two hits and scored four runs. Mineola made it two straight over West Hempstead with a 6-5 eight-inning victory. Freshman Derek Webber clubbed two homers, including a walk-off bomb in the bottom of the eighth for the win.

The Mustangs notched their fourth straight win in a rain-shortened 4-3 decision over Lynbrook. Matt Shanahan and Billy Campagna went a combined 4 for 4 in the fifth-inning game and drove in three of the runs. Mineola made in two straight over Lynbrook and five in a row overall with a 9-4 victory. Once again, Joe Wissler pitched a complete game. Wissler helped himself at the plate. He along with Mike Destefano and Tom Owens went 6 for 9 and scored five runs between them. Miineola also stole nine bases in the game.

The Mustang J-V's ran the win streak to six with a 2-0 victory over Plainedge. Despite getting only one hit, Mineola pulled out the victory. Mike Bencivenga's suicide squeeze bunt scored what turned out to be the winning run in the third inning. Winning pitcher Matt Shanahan scored the run. The lone hit didn't come until the Pat Gaffney lead off the seventh inning with a double. Shanahan pitched a complete game three-hitter. The winning streak ended in the next game. Plainedge got some revenge with a 7-4 victory. But, coach Silverstein said, "We had a great run. The boys played hard every inning of every game. I am proud of them."