Special thanks to Metamorphosis Landscape Design for sponsoring this year’s series
by Max Edelman
In his first year as head coach of the North Shore Vikings, Rob Gates accomplished his goal of getting his team back to the playoffs. Although the team suffered a first round defeat to Wantagh, Gates was happy with the effort his team showed, and is looking forward to hitting the ground running in 2025.
“The goal last year was to get back into the playoffs after two years without.” Gates said. “So that part of the mission was definitely a success. I got hired a little late last winter, so this winter I’ve been able to get everything up and running. So that’s been a nice adjustment here in year two.”
The major loss for the Vikings in 2025 is of star pitcher Garret Gates, who was both a finalist for the Diamond Award and was All-Long Island. Gates is now playing at New Jersey Institute of Technology. Additionally, All-County catcher Matt Ryan is now playing at Adelphi, and Raymond Scalzo and Gary Leschinski are playing at Nassau Community College.
FINAL: North Shore 4 – Clarke 3
In a darkness shortened game, the Vikings pull off a huge upset win on the road. Taking down the now 11-2 Clarke Rams. pic.twitter.com/rI3LC76SQo
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 7, 2024
Entering 2025, North Shore is entering the year with only four seniors, all of which are expected to have impact roles for the Vikings. Missing virtually the entire year last season, Gates is excited about what Ryan Lau can bring to the team. In 2023, a season in which he was an All-League player, Lau hit .330.
“He’s the key to our season.” Gates said. “Getting him back healthy. He’s a pitcher and an infielder. He would’ve been one of the top batters in the middle of our order last year. He basically missed the entirety of his junior season. But he’s back, so that’s huge.”
Nichols College-commit Mateo Rincon is entering his fourth and final year with the team. Having provided a strong season for the Vikings last year, Gates is hoping for a strong conclusion to Rincon’s North Shore career.
RHP Mateo Rincon (North Shore 2025) commits to Nichols College pic.twitter.com/k8HVlifnhu
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) September 16, 2024
“He’s got all the ability in the world.” Gates said. “He was a little up and down throughout the season, but his two best starts of last season was in the final game in the regular season against Clarke, and pitched great in our playoff game against Wantagh. It was a huge building block that he pitched his best two games against the best two teams we played last year.”
Along with Rincon, sophomore Brady Ayres is expected to help anchor the pitching staff for the Vikings. Along with being a staple on the mound, finishing 2024 with a 2.44 ERA, Ayers also hit .330 in his freshman season. After a strong summer, Gates has high hopes for his up and coming star.
“He had a dynamite summer.” Gates said. “He started, every week, he was our second most consistent pitcher. Brady looked up to Garret a lot last year, who was one of the best pitchers in the county, and I think he’s on that type of trajectory. He’s a hard worker, a bulldog on the mound and he pitched a lot of good games for us last year as a freshman.”
Gates will also be relying heavily on catcher Anthony Mele and outfielder Gianluca Sferrazza for leadership, as well as junior pitcher Marco Visintainer. After being called up to varsity midway through the season, pitched to a 2.50 ERA out of the bullpen, will either fill a bullpen or starting role with the team.
Entering the season, Gates believes in his team’s competitive spirit, and hopes that their work ethic will continue to shine throughout the long season.
“Our guys have been competing since we started our winter workouts.” Gates said. “Whether it was weight room competitions, hitting workout competitions. Trying to build that competitive spirit throughout the offseason, into the regular season. We have a lot of multi-sport athletes, which helps with our competitive mindset. I just want to put out a team that’s going to compete, and hopefully give some teams a run for their money come playoff time.
The North Shore Vikings will open their season on April 1 against Locust Valley.
