New York City’s hopes for a Little League World Series victory will have to be postponed for at least another year after the Staten Island South Shore Little League team saw their tournament run cut short with a 6-1 loss to Florida on Tuesday. Despite a determined performance from the New York squad, their journey to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, ended with a setback that saw them fall short of the championship.
The Staten Island team faced a formidable challenge from the Lake Mary, Florida Little League team. Although Staten Island managed to tie the game 1-1 in the fourth inning, their efforts ultimately were not enough to secure a win. The pivotal moment came when Florida’s Teraj Alexander made a heads-up play that shifted the momentum in their favor. With runners on first and second base, Alexander skillfully navigated a hard-hit ball between first and second base, creating confusion among the Staten Island infielders. This allowed Liam Morrisey to score from second base and for Alexander to advance to third base.
The Staten Island team had been hopeful, driven by a strong performance from their starter, Stephen Grippo. Grippo threw 86 pitches over 4⅔ innings, striking out seven batters and allowing only two runs on two hits. His early-game performance was solid, including striking out four of the first six batters he faced. However, his outing began to unravel in the third inning when he struggled with control issues. After walking one batter and hitting another, Grippo allowed the game’s first run on a walk to Hunter Alexander, despite getting out of the inning with minimal damage.
In the bottom of the third inning, Staten Island had an opportunity to respond. Dean Scarangello was hit by a pitch, and Dylan DeGaeta, one of Staten Island’s most reliable hitters during the tournament, singled, putting runners on the corners. Unfortunately, Florida’s pitcher, Garrett Rohozen, managed to get out of the jam by retiring the next two batters, preserving their lead.
The game remained tight until the bottom of the fourth inning when Staten Island managed to even the score. Jason Rocchio was hit by a pitch in the helmet, and Vincent Ruggiero followed up with a double, advancing Rocchio to third base. A sacrifice fly by Grippo brought Rocchio home, tying the game 1-1. However, this would be Staten Island’s only run of the game.
As the game progressed, Staten Island’s situation grew more difficult. Grippo, having reached his pitch limit, was replaced by Scarangello in the middle of the top of the fifth inning. Alex Torres and Zach Weiss also came into the game in relief. Florida capitalized on this change, adding four runs in the top of the sixth inning. The scoring began with a sacrifice fly by James Feliciano, followed by a decisive three-run home run from DeMarcos Mieses, which effectively sealed the victory for Florida.
This loss was reminiscent of previous games in the tournament for Staten Island, where their batting typically improved the second time through the order. In earlier matches, the team had been batting at an impressive .652 the second time they faced opposing pitchers. Despite their strong performance in this area, they were unable to overcome the deficit against Florida.
The defeat means that New York City’s quest for Little League World Series glory will have to wait. The last time a New York City-based team won the title was in 1964, when another Staten Island team captured the championship. Although Staten Island South Shore’s run in this year’s tournament ended in disappointment, their performance was a testament to their skill and determination.
As the team and their supporters regroup, the focus will inevitably shift to the future. While the Little League World Series dreams for this year are over, the experience gained and the lessons learned will likely serve as a foundation for future successes. For now, Florida advances, and Staten Island South Shore will reflect on their journey and prepare for the next opportunity to compete at the highest level.
