The Mineola High School boys varsity baseball team jumped into the portion of its schedule called crossover league games as schools from Mineola's conference, A-VI, take on teams from the A-I conference. The Mustangs came through that portion of their schedule with a record of 3-2.

Mineola got started with a 7-5 win at Lawrence, a team the Mustangs had never played. The players had to battle an on-and-off rain but Tiago Rodrigues was equal to the task. He pitched a complete game and struck out a career-high16 batters.

The Mustangs scored early in the game and Rodrigues drove in the first run scoring Mike Vasconcellos on a first inning single. Two innings later, Vasconcellos walked, stole second and was driven home by Kevin Tiseo, who later scored on an error. In the fifth inning, Tiseo and Mike Santopetro hit back-to-back homers to take a 7-0 lead.

Crossover game 2 was an 8-2 victory over Hewlett. Junior Mick Oswald three six innings to earn his first varsity win. He struck out nine, walked one and allowed just three hits. Oswald also came to bat in the first inning with the bases loaded and hit a high fly ball, which the centerfielder misplayed into three runs. Rob Maloney later tripled in a run. Chris Orlando pitched the final inning.

On the road for game three of the crossover schedule, the Mustangs dropped a 9-6 decision at South Side. Mineola took an early 3-0 lead but couldn't make it stand up. Once Southside got ahead, Mineola had trouble taking advantage of runners in scoring position. Chris Orlando had two hits including a two-run triple. Nick Tonini, Mike Santopetro and Tiago Rodrigues each had two hits.

Mineola returned home to face Garden City. Mustang Field was jammed with fans and those interested in seeing Garden City's Diamond Award-winning pitcher Matt Pettiton, who's headed to the University of North Carolina. That didn't stop several professional scouts from showing up with their radar guns, stop watches and notebooks. Mineola's ace, Tiago Rodrigues, pretty much matched Pettiton through the game, but the Trojans emerged with a 3-2 victory. Pettiton went 5 1/3 innings since he was on a pitch count. Rodrigues went the distance, allowing eight hits. The Mustangs had a chance to tie or win the game in the seventh inning but a line drive snared by the Garden City firstbaseman ended the rally.

Mineola then ended its crossover schedule with a 10-2 win at Great Neck South. The Mustangs scored twice in the first inning. Mike Santopetro doubled in Kevin Tiseo and then stole third and scored on an overthrow. Mineola scored six more in the second inning. Nick Tonini, John Cloghessy, Tiago Rodrigues, Joe Melito, Tiseo and Santopetro all scored that inning putting together four hits, two walks, 3 RBI's and four stolen bases. Santopetro went 3-3 while Tiseo and Justin Gonzalez each scored twice. Chris Orlando got his first varsity start on the mound. He pitched five solid innings.

The Mustangs began play in Conference A-VI on April 17 against North Shore with a 13-8 win.

The Mineola varsity softball team opened its season not only with the weather against it, but the schedule as well. The Lady Mustangs played five of their first seven games on the road.

After opening with a 16-6 loss at Plainview JFK, Mineola fell at Division 9-0 and at East Rockaway 9-7. But Mineola won its home opener against Sewanhaka.

Senior RoseAnne Mercurio got the win on the mound and went 2-3 at the plate with a two-run homer, her second round tripper of the season. Mineola made it two in a row with a 10-7 home win over Hewlett. Kelly Munson had a 3-4 day and drove in two runs while Danielle Rivera's sixth inning RBI single put the Mustangs ahead to stay.

Back on the road for the next two games, Mineola dropped a 6-2 decision at East Rockaway and suffered a 15-0 drubbing at West Hempstead. But warm weather and Conference III competition should heat things up.