The Spring Varsity Sports Season is into post-season play in Oyster Bay. Every season the academic averages of all varsity sports teams are taken collectively and each team whose average is greater than 90 percent is honored with the Scholar/Athlete Team distinction by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA). In a remarkable testament to the well-rounded OBEN student, all nine Spring Varsity Teams earned this prestigious award.
The Girls’ Lacrosse team led the pack with an impressive team average GPA of 95.981, followed closely by Girls’ Track and Field with a 95.329. The Class B Nassau County Champion Girls’ Softball Team also excelled with a 95.261 average, as did Boys’ Lacrosse with 92.272. The Boys’ Tennis Team registered a 91.038 team average. Rounding out the field were Golf with a 90.931 average, Boys’ Track and Field with 90.838 and Boys’ Baseball with 90.661. Many fine young athletes have excelled this season and were chosen by the Oyster Bay High School coaches as Athletes of the Month for May, 2014.
Girls’ Softball Coach Tim Brady picked his County Champion Captains as his May Athletes of the Month. Tri-Captains Jacqueline Romeo, Olivia Agostinello, and Caroline Kelly led the Lady Baymen Softball Team to a Nassau County Championship with leadership, experience, and the desire to succeed in their final season as Oyster Bay student athletes. All three succeeded in the classroom and playing fields as they impressed the coaches in Nassau County with selections to the All County, Honorable Mention All-County, and to the Scholar Athlete teams as well. These three young ladies will also lead their team in the Long Island Championship game on June 5 with the winner of that game moving on towards a possible NYSPHS State Championship birth. In addition, all three have also earned spots to play in the Exceptional Senior Game on June 13 at Oceanside High School. In the fall, Agostinello will attend Temple, Kelly will attend Elon, and Romeo will attend Oswego to continue their educations.
In just their second season in existence, Coach Charlie Rizzuto has led the Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse Team to the finals of the County Championships. Coach Rizzuto chose Vanessa Yu as his May Athlete of the Month. Yu is in the midst of a very memorable season. She scored 69 goals and 12 assists for 81 points before playing in the County Championships. She has been named Newsday Girls Lacrosse player of the week and won the Verizon Fios Player of the Game award for her efforts in the county semifinal vs. Seaford. In addition, Yu was selected to play in the School Girls Tournament Memorial Day Weekend in Maryland. This tournament is considered to be the most exclusive invite only tournament in the country. Yu is currently being recruited by many division one programs to continue her academic and athletic career.
Golf Coach Dan Petrie said, “I would like to nominate Kyle Hayes for athlete of the month. Hayes has stepped up his game for the 2014 Golf Season. Kyle reached the County Tournament, shooting an 84 on the first day under tremendous pressure, playing with the finest golfers Nassau County has to offer. With a constant smile, Kyle brings a sense of passion and light-heartedness to the golf team. His work ethic goes unrivaled and is a tremendous asset to our team.”
Boys Varsity Lacrosse Coach Brian Soper had this to say about his pick for Athlete of the Month: “Nick Orlowski has been the team’s hardest working player since league play began. He has been relentless on ground balls and has always guarded the opponent’s top player. He is looking to follow up on his All-County campaign of last year.”
Baseball Coaches Jay Davis and Jeff Schiereck picked their ace pitchers for the Athlete of the Month distinction. OBHS Junior Jackson O’Neill plays second base and is a pitcher. O’Neill has a pitching record of six wins and no loses. He has a 2.58 ERA and opponents hit just .192 against him. He has 26 strike outs in 31 1/3 innings pitched. At the plate he has a .467 batting average. OBHS Junior Stephen Spiegel plays third base and is a pitcher. Spiegel has a pitching record of five wins and no loses. He has a 1.02 ERA and opponents are batting just .147 against him. He has 57 strike outs in 35 innings pitched. At the plate he has a .342 batting average.
