Staten Island South Shore Little League’s resilience was on full display in the regional tournament. After coming close to elimination Sunday in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, they rallied again to pull off a 6-3 win over Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Starter Jake Romero got the team through a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the first inning, and Vincent Ruggiero’s hitting and base running sparked an offensive explosion in the bottom of the fourth, helping the team overcome a 1-0 deficit.
The win advanced Staten Island to the next round of the Little League World Series qualifiers, where it will face Great Lakes champion Hinsdale, Ill., on Sunday morning.
“We don’t give up,” manager Peter Giacchio told ESPN after the win. “This team never gives up. Even if we’re down 10-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning, we always keep trying.”
Ruggiero went 2-for-2 at the plate and got the ball rolling in the fourth inning. With Staten Island down 1-0, he hit a sharp liner, reached base and set up Steven Grippo for a single, making a dramatic play at home plate.
Ruggiero decided to score from first base on a hit by Grippo, and the throw from center field got to home plate before Ruggiero, but catcher Kinnick Noble lost control of the ball and Ruggiero was ruled safe.
A video review confirmed the decision on the field and changed the course of the game.
Nicholas McLean then singled to center field, sending Grippo home to give Staten Island the lead, Peter Giacchio’s double gave Staten Island its third run, and Keith Curro singled to left field to tie the game at 4-1.
“I’ve been doing this since the team was founded, always getting a hit as leadoff hitter. It feels really good to get the team excited,” Ruggiero said.
South Dakota got one back in the top of the fifth, but the Staten Islanders tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fifth on a Dean Scalagiello double and Dylan DeGaeta single to take a 6-2 lead.
South Dakota added its third run in the sixth inning on a single by Noble.
Romero gave up two hits, three runs and struck out six, pitching a near-complete game. Ruggiero took the mound in the sixth inning and closed out the game.
Romero showed he could shake off a tough start after walking the first batter of the afternoon, allowing a hit to the next batter and then walking one more to load the bases.
Romero looked visibly frustrated after the third batter reached base, but he remained calm and struck out South Dakota’s Luke Fenton on four pitches for the one out.
The Staten Island pitcher got Coltan to pop out in the foul zone in his next at-bat (helped by an overhead catch by Giaccio), and Romero got Augusto Forsarms to strike out swinging with the bases loaded.
“You just have to keep working hard and stay strong,” Romero said.
Romero struck out six of the next seven batters he faced, but South Dakota scored a run in the top of the fourth to briefly lead 1-0. Then Staten Island got going.
Ruggiero said he is likely named the starter for Sunday’s game against Illinois and is “excited to get pitching again.”
Staten Island is hoping to become the first Little League team from the five boroughs to win the Little League World Series since 1964.
