Port Washington Ignites as 12U Little League Team Dominates Metro Region Opener!

The Port Washington 12U Little League team, having already made history by becoming the first team from the town to win a New York state championship, began their quest for the Little League World Series in the Metro Region tournament. This momentous occasion saw the Jeanne Rimsky Landmark Theater in Port Washington transform from a live music venue into a bustling watch party, where the community gathered to support their hometown heroes as they faced Rhode Island champion Lincoln in Bristol, Connecticut.

The atmosphere at the theater was electric, mirroring a live baseball crowd. Fans erupted in cheers with every Port Washington score and voiced mild exceptions to perceived umpire errors. Matthew Fernand of the Viking Sports Foundation, the town's booster club, sold blue Port Washington baseball shirts to raise funds for the team's travel expenses, highlighting the strong community backing. Floryn Stock, the theater's director of programming and marketing, spearheaded the watch party initiative, inspired by watching the team's impressive run with her 8-year-old son. She recognized the team's profound impact, noting how they inspire the next generation of baseball players in the community. Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte, representing Port Washington, expressed immense pride, emphasizing that the team's achievement of becoming New York state champions for Port Washington Youth Activities (PYA) would be talked about for a very long time, giving her chills at the thought of them potentially reaching Williamsport.

On the field in Bristol, Connecticut, the Port Washington team delivered a dominant performance, defeating Lincoln (Rhode Island) with a final score of 10-3 in the opener of the four-team, double-elimination Metro Region tournament. This victory brings them one step closer to their dream of advancing to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, which begins on August 19. Port Washington is now set to face Bayonne (New Jersey), who beat Darien (Connecticut) 8-2, in their next game.

The game saw Port Washington establish an early lead, scoring twice in the first inning. In the third, Jack Gomez ripped a two-run single to the centerfield fence with the bases loaded, followed by an RBI single from Walt Cassens and a walk by Michael Gabriel, capping a four-run inning that made the score 6-0. Lincoln managed to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third with Tucker Choiniere's RBI double, but Mikey Catuongo scored on Jackson Gorynski’s double in the fourth, extending Port Washington's lead to 7-2.

Pitchers Drew Theoharis, Carlo Cafferata, and Jackson Gorynski collectively held Lincoln to just three hits. A 75-minute weather delay interrupted play in the bottom of the fifth, but the team remained focused. Catcher Michael Gabriel recounted how the team stayed locked in during the break, discussing the game, umpire zone, and fielding strategy. After the resumption, Danny Laneres' infield single brought in Adrien Duffney, narrowing the gap to 7-3. However, Brandon Kien secured a two-run double in the top of the sixth, helping to break the game open further, and later scored on an error to make it 10-3. Kien also made an athletic defensive play for the second out in the bottom of the sixth, before Luca Theoharis caught an infield fly to end the game.

Post-game reflections highlighted both success and areas for improvement. Shortstop Brandon Kien emphasized the importance of