Thursday, October 1, 2026
North Shore's 10-6 record is based on a surefire pitching staff that has three reliable starters.
Vikings coach Rob Gates won't even brand any of the trio as the ace. "Ace is just a word,'' Gates said.
Junior lefthander Brady Ayres, sophomore Jake Lau and senior Marco Visintainer are the triumphant trio.
They each are in different classes in school but together are making North Shore formidable in Conference A with a legitimate chance of homefield advantage in the first round of playoffs.
"The story is the pitching,'' Gates said.
Lau threw a complete-game, 5-0 shutout April 30 against Mineola for his third win that lowered his ERA to a staff-best 0.74.
Visintainer has been admirable with a 1.85 ERA and 3-2 record after posting a one-hit, 1-0 shutout over Mineola on Monday. It was North Shore's seventh shutout.
But the shiniest hurler is Ayres, the Maroon's hardest thrower, drawing college interest. Ayres also boasts a big bat. At 4-2 with 47 strikeouts and 2.23 ERA, Ayres has been clocked at 84 mph.
"He's like 7, 8 strikeouts a game, so it's been consistent,'' Gates said. "He's definitely overpowering at times. The two losses, he hurt himself with command. When he's consistently in the zone, he's been pretty dominant.''
Ayres' bat exploded in North Shore's biggest victory of the season - a 6-2 triumph over Seaford April 27. Ayres hit a first-inning, 3-run homer, was 3-for 3 with 5 RBI. Seaford made the Nassau Class A finals last season.
"It was a huge win,'' Ayres said. "It started with Marco on the mound. He had a great game. H really shut them down and we took care of business with the bats. We just executed. It really gives us moment that could carry us into the playoffs.''
On Monday, North Shore clinched a playoff berth with its Mineola victory as Ayres drove in the game's lone run with a single. The Vikings sit in fourth place.
"We all get along, we all hang out on and off the field,''' Ayres said. "We have so much chemistry. That will give us edge on other teams who don't have that. When we step on the field, I always feel we're the better team and can beat anyone.''
It's not just pitching, especially now that junior Liam Ricco is heating up over the last few games after a slow start. He hit his second home run last week against Seaford. Ricco has lifted his average to over .300 with 15 RBI.
Senior James Camardella is also above .300 with 2 home runs, 13 RBIs. Senior Jonathan Versocki is another .300 hitter.
Another team attribute is its solid outfield defense that could help in the postseason. Senior Thomas Priolo and juniors Riley McCrudden, Ricco and Jojo Basile have been outstanding in patrolling the outer grass.
There's still a chance North Shore moves up to third place as it plays a two-game series (Tuesday and Thursday) against Wheatley,
"It's huge games,'' Ayres said. "We really want to show other teams we can hang with anyone. It's a statement series.''
Holding onto fourth place still would give the Vikings a home game in the first round.
"I would love to win that first series,'' Gates said. "The 4-5 series is a winnable series to get into the semifinals. We probably would face unbeaten Plainedge or Wantagh. We'd love to get that opportunity.''
