North Shore Rains 6-3 on Mineola Baseball Opener

There is a certain majesty and reverence that appears on opening day: the turf is fresh, the baselines clean, the mound pristine.

Mineola baseball coach Helms Bohringer spent several innings trying to pump up his players on the baseball diamond affectionately known as the “cow pasture” late Monday afternoon against a North Shore team which ruined the Mustangs’ opener 6-3.

The Vikings were able to put a run up in the first as RHP John Caputo worked in and out of trouble, ultimately ending the frame on a strikeout with runners on first and second with two out.

The 6’ 1” senior also gave up a pair of runs in the second after the Mustangs had fought to retake the lead, throwing three straight offspeed pitched including a sweeping curveball to end the inning and followed it with a 1-2-3 top of the fourth.

Caputo did help his own cause during the bottom of the first, hitting an RBI double to score outfielders Nick Palma and Craig Weber, who got the Mustangs’ first hit of the season, a triple, off North Shore right hander Cody Johnson.

The righty also batted in first baseman Jimmy Bulva in the bottom of the fifth with a one out double after Palma laid down a sacrifice to move the runner into scoring position.

Johnson lasted 4 1/3 giving up one earned run and struck out seven Mustangs while walking three.

Mineola leadoff hitter Ryan Jenkins and outfielder Steve O’Connell accounted for four of Johnson’s K’s.

Mineola Batting Statistics