OWEGO, N.Y. — South Shore Little League’s 10-year-old baseball team will represent the state in the Mid-Atlantic Regional next week in Cranston, R.I., after topping Massapequa Coast LL, 9-1, in the NYS championship Saturday at Owego LL.
The banner will fly at the Tottenville loop thanks to a great pitching performance by Nicholas Fopeano and some timely hitting to go along with several walks.
Manager Kevin Rugg’s team will begin play in the Regional on Friday, something this group is well prepared for.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the boys. They took care of business from the first game to the last,’’ said Rugg of his team’s unbeaten record (4-0) in the state event. “It was a very long week with the two days lost to weather but they stayed focused and played very well.
“We realize it’s a great accomplishment to win the states and that was our goal from the start.”
It helped that Fopeano was superb on Saturday.
The righty scattered five hits in five complete innings and allowed one run. He struck out six and walked one.
Anthony Rao retired the final three batters in the sixth inning, kicking off a celebration of the team’s players, coaches and family members.
“Fopeano was once again dominating,” praised Rugg. “He’s been an all star for three years now and is our leader on the field. He’s been in many big games before and always keeps his composure.”
South Shore got plenty of offense as lead-off man AJ D’esposito had two hits and walked twice to pace an offense that produced eight hits.
Trailing 1-0, SS scored its first run on a bases-loaded walk in the top of the second inning.
South Shore took control of the game with a four-run third inning. Gabe Lucca started the rally with a single. After a Tyler Miro bunt single, John Paturzo and Matty Marco followed with back-to-back walks which produced the second run. D’Esposito then laced an RBI single and Matty Pizza followed with a two-run single to centerfield to make it 5-1.
SS would tack on two more runs in the fifth when John McLaughlin and Marco drew back-to-back walks which was followed by a bunt single by D'Esposito that turned into a two-run error.
South Shore tacked on two more runs in the sixth as Rao executed a perfect squeeze bunt to plate Lucca, who led off with a HBP and stole second and third. Marco then drove in Rao with an RBI single.
NOTES: South Shore outscored its opponents 26-3 in the four wins … The starting pitchers struck out a total of 30 batters in 24 innings … Rugg’s troops are now 11-0 on the tournament trail this summer.