The 8th grade baseball team from North Shore Middle School recently completed another very successful season finishing at 9-1. The team consisted of sixteen 8th graders and three 7th graders. The only blemish on the season record was a 16-13 defeat the last game of the season. Leading the team in hitting this year was John Muscarella (.640), Fred Benyo (.476), Doug Chaputian (.464), Chris Jenney (.444), Tom Lobben (.385), John Kearney (.333), Akil Edwards (.333), Roger Defranco (.333), Serik Slobodskoy (.333) and Jesse Savaran (.333). According to Coach Bill Melillo, the .408 team batting average is the highest team average at North Shore Middle School in the past 24 years. Ryan Galvin led the team with 12 walks and 14 stolen bases.

Other very important players to this fine team were outfielders Dan Moadel, Eddie Murray, Giancarolo Annese, Andrew Valentino, Sal Mercadante, Nick Vukov (who was second in extra bases hits), middle infielders Rob Ross and Brian McMenamin. Of the 87 hits this past season, 20 went for extra bases. This was such a concentrated team effort and this was the reason for the teams success.

The pitching saw Chris Jenney, Fred Benyo and Doug Chaputian finish at 2-0 each. John Muscarella was 2-1 and Serik Slobodskoy played a very important roll as a middle reliever.

Coach Melillo would like to thank each and every player for their tireless work and dedication to making this season one to remember. It is not always the number of wins/losses as much as what is learned and applied later on in life. This team should go on to be very successful in high school as well because of their work ethic and their great camaraderie.