WILLIAMSPORT, Pennsylvania – The New York summer dream lives on.
Staten Island’s South Shore Little League rebounded from an opening loss to survive two elimination games in the Little League World Series, defeating Hinsdale, Illinois, 4-0 on Sunday at Lamade Stadium.
Staten Island broke through in the fourth inning and, thanks to five scoreless innings from Vincent Ruggiero, survived the tournament in which they will play next Tuesday.
“They want to stay here,” South Shore manager Bob Laterza said of his guys, “and we’re not leaving.”
The group assured that they would be in good spirits when they met the Yankees later on Sunday.
Ruggiero, whose hat kept falling off his head after his pitches because of his floppy hair, held the Great Lakes champions to just two hits before giving way to Dean Scarangello, who got the final three outs to keep New York’s pride alive.
After surviving an elimination game on Saturday, South Shore played a 9 a.m. game, playing crisp defense and needing just one big inning on offense.
In the fourth inning, South Shore put runners on second and third base with one out.
Chase Curro hit a single through the left side to take the lead, and Staten Island continued to build from there.
Alex Torres scored the second run with his sacrifice fly.
Scarangello hit a single down the right field line to score two runs on a day when Staten Island beat Illinois 9-3.