Mineola High School varsity baseball coach Helms Bohringer enters his ninth year expecting "to put a number on the banner for a conference championship."

In Mineola's gym, there are banners hanging from the wall for each sport. On each banner, the years the team has won a conference title are proudly displayed. Bohringer would like to add another number on that banner.

In discussing the returning players on which he is basing his hopes, the coach had this to say:

Dan Medlock, Sr., 1B - Danny finished last season hitting over .300 and will be looked upon for his leadership skills this season.

Matt Shanahan, Sr., P/OF - Matt will be our number one pitcher this season, has played three years on varsity as a pitcher.

Mike Kondraciuk, Sr., P/OF - Mike will be looked upon to win the big third game of the series for the Mustangs.

Joe Wissler, Sr., OF/P - Joe is one of the big bats in our lineup with the potential to go deep at any time. He is also one of the pitchers who could help the program.

Juniors Tom Owens, Derek Webber and Mike DeStefano all played as sophomores and picked-up a lot of experience. Mike played behind the dish as well as outfield and led the team with a .330 batting average. Derek, the team's shortstop, is improving every game. Tom is described as a "coach's player" and is able to play more than one position to help the team.

Among the newcomers the coach is counting on is sophomore pitcher Tiago Rodrigues, who has been elevated to the second starting pitcher. Juniors Mike Bencivenga and Pat Gaffney finish up the starting unit.

"We are playing in a very competitive league with Manhasset, Valley Stream North, Roosevelt and Seaford along with crossover games with Carey, Garden City, MacArthur, Bellmore JFK and Great Neck South. We should be in the playoff hunt," said Coach Bohringer.