Blazer baseball continues to flourish on all cylinders, even considering that our boys presently are facing the tougher teams on the schedule and have shown themselves to be competitive in their league encounters just completed. Going 3-3 after their five "warm-up" developmental contests, their 8-3 overall ledger at present speaks well of their concentrated efforts on the field.

Coach Denzer continues to be optimistic on this team's outlook but always is aware of the realities that will always be evident on the forefront. He states "The results of hard work in practices and scrimmages have begun to pay off as our players show greater awareness in game situations. I am pleased beyond expectation of our performance to date but realize that we have yet to face teams with overpowering pitching stars and must hold off in my ultimate team assessment until the final results are in."

Meeting two teams with winning records last week, the locals gave a big effort on all counts, downing Locust Valley 5-3 but sloppy play in the field cost them a 7-2 loss against arch-rival Roslyn. The Blazers shook off their short-lived adversity with a runaway 17-5 blowout against winless Malverne to the delight of the home fans as the entire squad, for once, had a field day at bat with all but two players connecting safely.

The game at Locust Valley on April 27 afforded the Blazers a real test as spirits were low after the rout by Valley Stream South following a series sweep by the Falcons over Malverne. Facing another team with the "Falcons' nickname back to back it was pitching that stood out until the locals could pull out a 5-3 decision with a late rally. Southpaw Justin Katz made his second mound start for North, opposing right hander Dan Reardon for the home team. Playing for one run at the outset following a leadoff double by Mike Stock the locals had Micah Tucker bunt him over to third. A strikeout and infield fly by Steve Kohan and Josh Bilgrei however ended the inning scoreless. The Falcons tallied a second on a one out RBI single by Kevin Barry who was gunned down stealing by the mighty arm of catcher Kohan. The Blazers evened the count in the third as Billy Tagg scored from third on a slow roller by Tucker and took a 3-1 lead in the fifth on Stock's clutch two run single, driving in Drew Schechtman and Tagg. In a further adventurous escapade, Stock was cut down stealing for only the second time in 22 tries to nip a budding rally. The Falcons tied it up at 3-3 in their fifth turn at bat on two singles and a throwing error by Brian Rosenberg but were throttled on a squeeze bunt with two on base on a nifty Kohan-Bilgrei-Kohan double play (pitcher-first base-catcher). Kohan relieved Katz for the final two innings, turning away the Falcons with his own brand of smoke, including a crucial pickoff of a runner off season to end the sixth inning. Schechtman drove in a go-ahead run in the sixth for the locals with his second single to left. Katz, now playing center field, beat out a bunt to third, scampered to third on an overthrow and scored on a wild pitch to add the insurance fifth run in the final inning.

Roslyn, always a tough opponent, was next on the North agenda and took the measure of the visiting Blazers on April 28 by a 7-2 score, featuring the top notch pitching of freshman lefty Adam Balkan who spun a sparkling four-hitter, fanning nine and walking three. Jon Donenfeld went the route for the locals, allowing just six hits but could not overcome shaky Blazer fielding, creating a 5-0 lead for the Bulldogs after five innings. Doubles by Stock and Rosenberg provided both Blazer runs in the sixth but crucial strikeouts by Balkan turned the locals away when scoring opportunities beckoned. Roslyn scored twice more in the sixth to wrap up the 7-2 outcome, including hits by Balkan and Roy Smallwood plus two wild throws on bunts. This loss left the Blazers at 2-3 in division play.

Taking the measure of the 0-8 Malverne Mules on April 30, the locals had no trouble with the visitors, romping to a 12-0 lead after two innings, featuring eight and four run splurges on 11 hits, batting around twice during these innings. They added single runs in the third and fourth and finished with a "Threespot" in the sixth on three doubles and a triple to punctuate their season high 18-hit offensive display. Bilgrei coasted on the mound for the locals from start to finish for his third win, chipping in with a 3 for 5 afternoon at bat with 3 RBIs. Tucker had his biggest hitting game output, showing a 4-3-4 box score entry with 3 RBIs and a long-ranged three-bagger in his last time up. Though playing three innings, Schechtman and Tagg each went 2 for 2, combining for 6 RBIs before giving way to Jarret Scheiman and Katz in the lineup. The locals ran the bases at will in the early going registering 9 of their 10 steals after two innings with Stock picking up three for a season total of 23. Kohan's slugging included a double to the left field hill but he was hit twice by pitches, upping his season total to seven. All in all, it was a 17-5 workout in preparation for games this week against high ranking Clarke and North Shore plus a second meeting with Hempstead.

Stock continues to lead the hitters with a .457 BA and .606 OBA, including 16 hits and 13 walks plus 10 RBI and 17 runs scored. Tucker has moved to the runner-up spot with a .409 BA and a high of 12 RBI. Bilgrei (.394) and Kohan (.379) have fallen off slightly but these top four players in the batting order have been the foundation of the Blazer offense for most of the season.

With nine games to go, closing with four of five developmental games against Hempstead and Westbury, North could achieve the most wins in a 20 game season since the '60s.