It's been a promising season for New York baseball, but the World Series is on the horizon for the kids.
The Massapequa Coast Little League 11-year-old and his 12-year-old boys beat Connecticut's Fairfield Americans in a 7-5 victory in Bristol on Monday, following a magical I spent a summer like. Connecticut advances to the Metro Region Championship.
Fairfield and Toms River East meet in the semi-finals on Wednesday night, with the winner facing a Nassau County team on Friday night to qualify for Williamsport.
It took him more than five hours to digest six innings, including two rain postponements, but the first state champion in his 72-year history of the league. Having won the ship, Massapequa weathered the weather. Led by head coach Roland Clark, the team is one win away from the Little League World Series.
"It was an exhausting day for him, both emotionally and physically," Clarke said over the phone after the game ended about three and a half hours late. "For his 12-year-old boys on both teams, it was just amazing how each team responded and what they went through."
Massapequa said he We lost 12-9 and had no outfielders. A two-run homer off Joey Lionetti gave Massapequa the lead in the first.
Massapequa made no errors and made some diving his plays and basically sound plays.
"We are not the biggest team," Clark said. “We may not have the strongest pitcher, but we have 11 boys who can play any position.
In the third inning, Fairfield had a runner in the corner and attempted to enter a rundown between first and second bases, allowing the third base runner to score. Catcher Ryan Haxloot, shortstop Christian Bekiers, and third baseman Michael Clarke executed classic Little League play to perfection, with Clark eventually throwing to Haxloot for an out at home.
In the fifth inning, Massapequa's outfielders each made catches and scored out the frame, including slugging dives from right fielder Brendan Hanley and left fielder Lucas Minini. The one who sprinted before laying out his body.
"The defense was excellent from start to finish," said Clarke.
Fairfield started the rally in his sixth inning, scoring four runs and bringing the go-ahead run to the plate, but Massapequa's Bequier scored the game-ending strikeout. did.
"Looking at the attitude of the players, I never thought they were going to lose," Clark said.
