STATEN ISLAND, New York (WABC) — It's sure to be a day the young people of Staten Island will never forget.
Staten Island's South Shore Little League made its first appearance in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
The team represents the Metro Region and will play a Mountain Region team from Nevada on Thursday.
The game kicks off at 3pm on ESPN.
Meanwhile, a viewing party was being held at Tottenville's Fastbreak to support the team.
Baseball parents and Little League players gathered excitedly to watch on the big screen the pride of their district compete in Williamsport, more than 200 miles away.
Little League player AJ Eugenio watches his friends play on TV. Even though he's a year younger than them, Eugenio looks up to his team.
“I'm really proud of them and excited for them because we respect them as coaches and they're like our best friends,” he said.
Mayor Eric Adams delivered the vote of confidence for the city, calling the team's performance in the Little League World Series “truly incredible.”
Morale is already high for the team after a 17-2 record this summer.
“Guys are ecstatic, they're on fire, and we're trying to keep our feet on the ground with games left, but the guys are having a great time,” coach Bob Laterza said.
It's taken Coach Bob 32 years to get to this point, and even though it's Little League, it's no small challenge.
The decades-old summer tournament features 20 teams from around the country and the world.
But the South Shore has the entire borough on its side.
Going professional is a dream that few can realistically achieve, but for a kid from Staten Island playing in the Little League World Series, no dream is too big.
“This is great for the community, this is great for the borough,” spectator Michael Mancusi said. “I'm so proud to be a Staten Islander.”
South Shore lost to Nevada team Paseo Verde in the first game. The loss put South Shore in the elimination group and they will play again on Saturday.
Historically, this will be South Shore’s fourth time in the Little League World Series.
Mayor Adams said the last time a New York team won the entire tournament was in 1964, and it was a team from Staten Island.
Mid-Island Little League, also based on Staten Island, played in the Little League World Series in 2018 but lost.
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