For just one second quit moaning over your shattered NCAA tourney brackets. Contemplate the arrival of spring this week. No phenomenon heralds the coming season more appropriately than batting practice, pepper drills and exhibition games. This community is no exception. On Saturday, March 16, the men's baseball teams of North Shore and Glen Cove squared off in a "friendly" intersquad game at Glen Cove High School.

The NS Vikings had the better of the first half of the game, building a 3-0 lead through four innings. In the first inning, senior center fielder Andre Moskowitz hit an infield single and subsequently stole second. Senior Josh Micelotta (Mic) knocked Moskowitz in with a double smashed 320 feet off the right field fence. In the fourth inning, the Vikings staged a two-out rally commencing with another Mic blast that landed 20 feet in front of the 358' sign in left-center field (you do the math). With Mic standing on second, senior Ross Tesoriero launched what amounted to a 360 feet error to center field. Mic scored on the muff, with Tesoriero taking second. Senior Frank Guidici reached first with a well-placed grounder between third and short, as Tesoriero advanced to third base. On the first pitch to the next batter, Guidici stole second. On the Catcher's throw down to second, Tesoriero broke for home. The covering baseman's throw back to home arrived instantaneously with the sliding runner. The ball glanced off Tesoriero and he was in safely with the Vikings' third run.

In the bottom of the fourth, Mic, who had blanked the G.C. Big Red batters over the first three innings and held them hitless, was relieved by Guidici. Guidici showcased his knuckle curve in his first frame successfully, sending down Glen Cove 1-2-3. However, in the bottom of the fifth, Big Red batters tagged Guidici for a single and a double, breaking up the combined no-hitter, leaving runners at second and third. Bruce Testa then laced a single to right field, scoring the two Glen Cove runners.

Guidici was relieved by freshman Will Kunkel for North Shore in the sixth inning. Kunkel looked impressive in retiring the side. However, in the bottom of the seventh, Steve Abbondandolo took Kunkel deep with a one-run homer over the right field wall. Since this was an exhibition, the game ended in a 3-3 tie. Of special note, senior catcher Jeff Vitale looked sharp behind the plate, throwing out two Big Red runners attempting to steal second base. Glen Cove catcher Donnie Daniels returned the favor throwing out a would-be Viking base poacher.

Both squads show promise for a successful season. Then again, it's early season when hope springs eternal. One can hardly wait for the mid-season annual matchup between these two teams as they renew their rivalry under the lights at Glen Cove City Stadium on Saturday, May 4 at 8 p.m., for bragging rights to this neck of the woods.

North Shore is looking forward to playing on its home field up at the high school after last year's vandalism incident. Coach Dom Gatti begins his inaugural season with a solid crew of seniors and several promising underclassmen new to the varsity squad. Pitching as always will be key with Senior Ace Tesoriero the number one starter, followed by Micelotta, Guidici and Kunkel.