With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning and the game tied at 5-5, Peter Giacchio of Staten Island South Shore Little League came to bat determined to end the game.
“I told him it was one pitch,” Staten Island manager Bob Laterza told The Post. “He said, ‘I don’t care how many pitches you throw, I’m going to win this game.'”
Giaccho did just that. hit a single fly to left field Dylan DeGaeta’s goal led Staten Island to a 6-5 win over East Lyme, Connecticut, and punched its ticket to the Mid-Atlantic Regional final to face Morristown, New Jersey, on Friday night.
The winner will advance to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Staten Island fought throughout the match in Bristol, Connecticut, overcoming two deficits to pull off a hard-fought victory.
“These kids aren’t giving up,” Laterza said. “They’re playing in our league for four years. This is where they want to be. It’s all about getting there. They’re making the most of this opportunity.”
Trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Vin Ruggiero scored on a double to put Staten Island within one run.
Jake Romero homered off Giacchio in his next at-bat to tie the game and set the stage for the game-winning hit two innings later.
Dean Scalagiello was the winning pitcher for Staten Island, taking over for Ruggiero in the top of the fourth inning and striking out five batters while allowing just one run.
Staten Island now has a chance to not only punch a berth to the Little League World Series, but also get a chance to redeem itself a little against New Jersey after a tough 11-1 loss in the regional tournament.
Laterza said the team’s only goal heading into Friday’s regional final is to play their game, and if they can do that “everything will fall into place.”
It’s been a long time coming for State Island South Shore Little to come this close to a chance to play in the Little League World Series.
The closest they came, Mr. Laterza said, was in 2001, before losing to the Rolando Paulino All-Stars of the Bronx in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament, a tournament that was later tainted by a scandal that revealed star pitcher Danny Almonte was actually 14 years old.
Now they’re one win away from reaching Williamsport.
“What is it? [the players] “We’ve been dreaming about it and we’re one step away from making it a reality,” Laterza said.
