Port Washington Little League's Historic Season Ends in Metro Regional Final

Port Washington Little League's historic season concluded Wednesday night with a 8-4 loss to Darien, Connecticut, in the Little League World Series Metro regional round. The defeat eliminated the New York state champions, who were two wins away from qualifying for the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, an achievement that would have been a first in the team's 63-year history.

Darien now advances to the championship game against Bayonne, New Jersey, on Friday. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

The scoring began in the first inning when Darien catcher Hugh Butler hit a home run off Port Washington pitcher Carlo Cafferata, giving Darien a 1-0 lead. Darien starter Charlie MacLane pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings before being relieved. Cafferata tied the game 1-1 in the third inning with an RBI single, but Port Washington was unable to capitalize further with the bases loaded.

Darien regained the lead in the bottom of the third inning with an RBI single from shortstop Luca Hidaka and an RBI double from Butler, extending their lead to 4-1. Drew Theoharis replaced Cafferata on the mound for Port Washington. Darien added two more runs in the same inning on a double by Chase Sutter, making the score 6-1.

In the fifth inning, Theoharis drove in a run for Port Washington with an RBI single, reducing the deficit to 6-2. Butler then hit another two-run double for Darien, pushing their lead to 8-2.

Port Washington mounted a late rally in the sixth inning. With the bases loaded and one out, outfielder Luca Theoharis, Drew's younger brother, hit a two-run single, cutting Darien's lead to 8-4. Darien closer Roscoe Hurty entered the game and secured the final two outs via a double play to end the game.

Port Washington's run to the regional final gained national attention this week due to the team's unique game-day tradition. Coaches placed the players' cell phones in a bucket five hours before each game, a practice that Port Washington players reportedly embraced as a good luck charm and a way to focus on playing together.