New York stays alive at Series; rallies for exciting win

PLAY OF THE GAME — Stephen Grippo’s game-tying single: South Dakota led 1-0 with two outs in the fourth inning when Grippo followed a Vinent Ruggerio single with the game-tying RBI single to center field. It broke the ice and New York took over from there with the next three batters also producing hits. Between the fourth and fifth innings eight of nine New York players delivered hits as the Metro champions came storming back to win. New York also produced nine of its 11 hits after the first two outs were recorded to open the fourth inning.

NEW YORK PLAYER OF THE GAME — Jake Romero: The offense broke out in a big way and came from all parts of the order, but Romero’s pitching is what gave New York a shot at its comeback. The right-hander settled in after a shaky start and threw five gutsy innings of two-hit baseball. Romero was outstanding under pressure, stranding five runners and striking out five. He also went 1 for 2 with a double and run.

SOUTH DAKOTA PLAYER OF THE GAME — Kinnick Noble: An excellent catcher, Noble also showed off his offensive skills against New York. The team’s No. 2 hitter went 1 for 1 with an RBI single, reaching base in all three at-bats. He refused to go quietly with two outs in the sixth, hitting a two-strike, two-out RBI single the opposite way into right field.

BIG INNING–New York fourth: After the first two batters were retired, New York caught fire and delivered five straight clutch hits which turned a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 lead. Ruggerio ignited the rally with a single before scoring the tying run on Stephen Grippo’s two-strike RBI single. That was the first of four straight RBI hits with Nicholas McLean hitting a go-ahead RBI single, Peter Giaccio an RBI double and Chase Curro an RBI single.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Metero manager Bob Laterza gives instructions to Joe Iraci before going to bat.

BEST EFFORT–Jake Romero’s Houdini act: South Dakota loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the first inning and looked poised to build an early advantage. Instead, Romero dialed in after some early wildness and displayed both his talent and guts. The right-hander struck out two of the next three batters and fanned the second on a 3-2 pitch. If Romero does not come up huge there, the game’s complexion may have drastically changed.

FLASHING LEATHER–New York catcher Peter Giaccio played a big role in helping New York escape a bases-loaded, no-out first inning jam when he made a super catch, running toward the wall behind the plate. Giaccio located the ball as soon as it started going backward, sprinted after it, did not let the wall coming closer faze him and made the catch a few feet from there while producing the second out. South Dakota returned the favor and used sterling defense to also end a threat in the bottom of the first. With a runner on third, second baseman Sully Krueger made a fantastic running catch. Krueger went all the way from the middle of the infield to near the wall down the first base line, making a spectacular inning catch in no-man’s land. New York shortstop Alex Torres made a nifty play in the third inning, going into the hole near second base and stopping a sharp Kenyel Flores grounder which looked like it might go for a single before making a snap throw for the second out. The great plays kept coming an inning later when South Dakota turned a pretty double play which ended the inning. Shortstop Bode Biteler stopped a grounder as he moved toward the second base bag and then flipped to Krueger for the forceout. Krueger then made a quick turn and first baseman Ryan Henry a nice scoop of a one-hopper as South Dakota kept the game scoreless. New York center fielder Chase Curro kept the defensive showcase in full swing an inning later. Curro sprinted back on a Manny Kortan liner and made a diving over the shoulder catch for the third out. Romero made another outstanding play in the fifth inning, hustling off the mound to stop a slow roller up the third-base line. He then turned and made a perfect throw across his body for a key second out with a runner in scoring position. Fittingly, South Dakota capped its two-game defensive clinic at the Series with one of the Series best plays. Right fielder Sam Wurth somehow made a running, over the shoulder catch while approaching the wall in the fifth inning. His latest highlight play at the Series robbed Stephen Grippo of a two-run or possibly three-run double or triple.

WHAT THE ADULTS SAY– “I said, ‘That was the ball game. That’s it,’” New York manager Bob Laterza said. “Bases loaded, no outs in Little league and come out with none? I would have been happy with giving up a run there or two runs. To come out with zero, I was surprised. They played a great game after that. They could have folded, and they hung tough the rest of the game.”

“In the moment there were a lot of tears, even from the managers in the dugout,” South Dakota manager Nick Kortan said. “The kids will reflect on the time that we had here and look at the well-played baseball that they played here and know they have nothing to hang their heads about. We represented the Midwest region as well as anyone could have.”

WHAT THE KIDS SAY– “I knew I had to get a base hit. Coach Bob said just get a single, just put the bat on the ball. That’s just what I did,” McLean said of his go-ahead RBI single. “I knew I had to come through for my team.”

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Midwest third baseman Luke Fenton fields a ground ball for a put out at first base in the second inningl

WHAT IT MEANS–New York has won three of its last four postseason games via comeback and this one keeps its world title dreams alive. The Metro champions are guaranteed a top 8 American finish and have a quick turnaround, playing another elimination game Sunday morning against Illinois. South Dakota’s fantastic season came to an end. The Sioux Falls Little League made its third Series appearance since the league was founded in 2017, a remarkable achievement.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Metro center fielder Chance Curro makes a catch for an out in the fourth inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Metro manager Bob Laterza celebrates their win over Midwest with Dean Scarangello.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Metro Manager Bob Laterza cheers on his team after a good inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Metro third baseman Dean Scarangello fields the ball as Midwest’s Tait Ready is safe at third base on a passed pitch in the sixth inning. Making the call is third base umpire Jessie Munar.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Midwest short stop Bode Biteler comes up short on a line drive to center field on Metro’s Dylan DeGaeta in the fifth inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Metro second baseman Joe Iraci charges the ball before throwing to first base for an out in the fifth inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Metro’s Chance Curro celebrates after hitting a single with an RBI in the fourth inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Metro’s Peter Giaccio celebrates after hitting a double with an RBI in the fourth inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Metro’s Vincent Ruggiero, back and Peter Giaccio celebrate after Ruggiero scored on a double by Stephen Grippo in the fourth inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Midwest second baseman Sully Krueger celebrates after turning two with a force on Metro’s Kylan DeGaeta as second base umpire Steven Lewis makes the call at second in the third inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Midwest’s Kinnick Noble is safe at home as Metro pitcher Jake Romero waits for the throw on a passed pitch in the fourth inning.