Port Washington Little League is one victory away from claiming the New York state championship, a significant step after a semifinal loss in last year's tournament. The team will face Mid-Island Little League in the finals on Friday evening in West Nyack.
The winner of the New York State final will go on to represent the Empire State in the Little League World Series regional tournament. This regional competition will take place in Bristol, Connecticut, featuring top teams from New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, with games broadcast on ESPN. The ultimate victor of the regional tournament will advance to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
To reach the state final, Port Washington defeated Twin Town, NY, with a decisive 6-1 victory, highlighted by a five-run third inning. Their opponent, Mid-Island Little League, secured their spot in the final by defeating Florida, NY, 11-1 in a five-inning game. Both teams enter the final with identical 2-1 records in tournament play. Port Washington has conceded 10 runs in total, while Mid-Island has allowed nine.
"We’re playing up against a really good Staten Island team," Port Washington manager David Gabriel told The Post. "We’re going to have to play our best baseball." Gabriel described his team as "something special," emphasizing that "every kid is contributing to where we are today."