The Massapequa Coast Little League team came heartbreakingly close to achieving their ultimate dream. After a resounding victory against East Hanover (N.J.) in the semifinals of the Little League World Series Metro Regional Championship, they fell short with a 7-1 loss to Smithfield (R.I.) in the title game held in Bristol, Conn. Their defeat left them just one win away from reaching Williamsport.
Despite having beaten Connor Curtis, the opposing pitcher, in their first regional game, Curtis showcased his exceptional skills on the mound in the final match. He struck out an impressive 14 batters while only allowing one run on three hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings. Curtis continued pitching into the sixth inning, striking out the first two batters before reaching his pitch limit. Brayden Castellone then took over and finished the game with a strikeout.
On the Long Island side, Ryan Land started the game and unfortunately yielded five runs (four earned) in 2 2/3 innings as Smithfield’s relentless lineup scored three runs in the first inning, resulting in a 5-0 lead after three frames.
Massapequa Coast didn’t let the score discourage them in the bottom of the third. Tommy Tabone kickstarted a comeback with a bunt single. He then advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a walk and a hit batter, Tabone sprinted home from third on another wild pitch, earning the team’s sole run in the game.
Although they fell behind early, Massapequa’s Matteo Pipia, who had previously performed well in the semifinals, demonstrated his skills once again as a reliever in the final game. Pipia effectively neutralized the Rhode Island bats, striking out seven batters and allowing only two runs on two hits with a walk during his 3 1/3 innings on the mound.
This marked the second consecutive year that the New York state champions made it to the regional final, following in the footsteps of last year’s Massapequa Coast team that reached the Little League World Series. The majority of this year’s squad consisted of players from the team that won the 10-year-old New York state title in the previous season. Despite the loss, Massapequa concluded the regional championship with a 2-1 record and an impressive plus-12 run differential, winning their first two games by margins of 10-1.
As for the Rhode Island team, they will face Nevada in Williamsport on Wednesday at 3 p.m., continuing their journey in the Little League World Series.
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