LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating the 2009 Southampton Varsity Boys'
Baseball Team upon the occasion of capturing both the Suffolk County and
Long Island Class B Championships, and on their outstanding season

WHEREAS, Excellence and success in competitive sports can be achieved
only through strenuous practice, team play and team spirit, nurtured by
dedicated coaching and strategic planning; and
WHEREAS, Athletic competition enhances the moral and physical develop-
ment of the young people of this State, preparing them for the future by
instilling in them the value of teamwork, encouraging a standard of
healthy living, imparting a desire for success and developing a sense of
fair play and competition; and
WHEREAS, The Southampton Varsity Boys' Baseball Team are the 2009 Long
Island Class B Champions, defeating Nassau County champion, Wheatly, to
win the school's first-ever Long Island Class B title; and
WHEREAS, In addition, for the first time since 1978, the Southampton
Varsity Boys' Baseball Team won the Suffolk County Class B Championship;
and
WHEREAS, During the 2009 season, the Southampton Varsity Boys' Base-
ball Team compiled an outstanding 20-8 record; and
WHEREAS, Head Coach Ike Birdsall, and Assistant Coaches Gary Pike and
Jim Coady, are skilled and inspirational mentors, respected for their
ability to develop potential into excellence; and
WHEREAS, The team's overall record is outstanding, and the team
members were loyally and enthusiastically supported by family, fans,
friends and the community at large; and
WHEREAS, The hallmarks of the 2009 Southampton Varsity Boys' Baseball
Team, from the opening game of the season to participation in the
Suffolk County and Long Island championships, were a brotherhood of
athletic ability, of good sportsmanship, of honor and of scholarship,
demonstrating that these team players are second to none; and
WHEREAS, Athletically and academically, the team members have proven
themselves to be an unbeatable combination of talents, reflecting favor-
ably on their school; and
WHEREAS, Head Coach Ike Birdsall, and Assistant Coaches Gary Pike and
Jim Coady, have done a superb job in guiding, molding and inspiring the
team members toward their goals; and
WHEREAS, Sports competition instills the values of teamwork, pride and
accomplishment, and Head Coach Ike Birdsall, Assistant Coaches Gary Pike
and Jim Coady, and the 2009 Southampton Varsity Boys' Baseball Team's
outstanding athletes have clearly made a contribution to the spirit of
excellence which is a tradition of their school; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the 2009 Southampton Varsity Boys' Baseball Team; its
members: Vincent Abbate, Brandon Alvarado, Alex Antilety, Colin Buoniel-
lo, Dan Fitzgerald, Joseph Guerin, Charles Knoebel, Sean Johnson, Eric
Miller, Chris Pike, Jeb Schmidt, Andrew Shimkus, Ricky Wesnofske, Conal
Wood and Niall Wood; Head Coach, Ike Birdsall; and Assistant Coaches
Gary Pike and Jim Coady on their Suffolk County and Long Island champi-
onship titles, and on their outstanding season and overall team record;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the members of the 2009 Southampton Varsity Boys' Baseball
Team, and to Head Coach Ike Birdsall, and Assistant Coaches Gary Pike
and Jim Coady.