Last night, Staten Island Little League team the South Shore National defeated a team from Somerset Hills, NJ, 4-0, to become the Mid-Atlantic Regional champions. Now the team is headed to Williamsport, Pennsylvania for the Little League World Series. Proud uncle Anthony Morisano, whose nephew James is on the team, told the Daily News, "This is a big deal for us. The whole team is good. All the kids seem to be stepping up." What's more, they're stepping up during a nationally broadcast (on ESPN2) game!
The Staten Island Advance, which has blog about the game itself, spoke to first baseman Angelo Navetta, who had a first inning solo home run; he said, "It was a great feeling. I'm usually looking for a first-pitch fastball. But I worked the count back to 3-2 and I got a pitch I could drive."
The last time a NY team made the Little League World Series, which features sixteen teams in playoffs to make it to the big game, was three years ago; all told, NY teams have been there 16 times, winning twice (1954 and 1964). The Little League World Series starts this Friday.
