As one of the most decorated Mustangs in program history, Mineola High School varsity baseball coach Helms Bohringer has established a successful reputation for Mineola baseball. This year's squad looks to qualify for the playoffs for the ninth time in Bohringer's 12 years at the helm. A talented group of juniors will gel with seven veteran seniors in an attempt to improve on last year's 10-6 record in Conference VI. The competition is expected to be fierce with the Valley Stream South Falcons joining the conference and the Roosevelt Roughriders moving on. If all goes according to plan, Bohringer will seek his third conference championship as an added bonus.

The key performer will be returning All-Conference selection Mick Oswald as the stalwart member of the starting rotation and the team's offensive force. Oswald is receiving considerable interest from a number of local colleges and will certainly be continuing his career on the next level. Joining Oswald in the middle of the lineup will be fellow senior Chris Orlando, who will be rotating between pitcher and catcher as well as filling in around the infield. Orlando's role on defense will be critical to the team's success.

Senior Rob Maloney, another Mustang getting collegiate attention, will captain the outfield from his post up the middle as well as be a solid cog of the pitching staff. In the words of Bohringer, "Maloney has the potential for a dynamic season."

Bohringer said the play of Oswald, Maloney and Orlando may determine how far the Mustang go. Two other Seniors, Mike Vasconcelos and Joe Melito, will anchor the left and right sides of the infield respectively. Vasconcelos has an excellent opportunity for All-Conference consideration while Melito will be a spark at the top of the lineup.

Bohringer, along with assistant coach Barry Silverstein and junior varsity coach Anthony Visconti, has not singled out any particular team or series as critical to the team's chances. Crossover battles will be extremely important and winning as many three-game series as possible within conference play will secure post-season seeding.

Among players to watch on the other side of the diamond will be Danny Barnes (Princeton) and Mike Rubertone (Fairfield) of Manhasset and Elvin Medina (Dowling) of Valley Stream South. Back-to-back series against the Valley Streams, North and South, before finishing the season with rivals Manhasset and North Shore will provide momentum for a potential return to the Nassau semi-finals for the third time under Bohringer.

The sweet spot on the schedule will be a return engagement to Keyspan Park on May 1, home of the New York Mets minor league affiliate Brooklyn Cyclones, against Mineola athletic director Ralph Amitrano's alma mater, Bishop Ford High School.

Bohringer has much to offer in his task as leader of the Mustangs. As a Mustang alumni and Adelphi University Hall of Famer, he spent three years with the Los Angeles Dodgers' organization as a player and one as a coach before returning to his roots in the local community. Now he is rewriting history from the third base coaching box and leading his young players in the next phase of their lives.

The Schedule the Rest of the Way

April 19 vs. Valley Stream North at Mineola High School 4:15 p.m.

April 23 vs. Valley Stream South at Mineola High School 4:30 p.m.

April 24 vs. Valley Stream South at VS South 4:30 p.m.

April 26 vs. Valley Stream South at Mineola High School 4:30 p.m.

May 1 vs. Bishop Ford H.S. at Key Span Park, Brooklyn 3 p.m.

May 7 vs. Manhasset at Manhasset High School 4:30 p.m.

May 8 vs. Manhasset at Mineola High School 4:30 p.m.

May 10 vs. Manhasset at Manhasset High School 4:30 p.m.

May 12 vs. MacArthur South at McArthur High School 10:30 a.m.

May 14 vs. North Shore at North Shore High School 4:30 p.m.

May 15 vs. North Shore at Mineola High School 4:30 p.m.

May 16 vs. North Shore at North Shore High School 4:30 p.m.