Massapequa Little Leaguers Win State Title, But Unable To Advance

MASSAPEQUA, NY — More little leaguers from Massapequa having nice runs.

The squad of 13-14-year-olds from Massapequa International won the Junior Little League New York State Championship.

After advancing to the East Regionals in PA, the team finished third best.

"The team took it pretty hard," manager Keith Pignetti told Patch. "We were all very proud of them."

The road to the regionals came with three victories in the state tournament, including defeating Throgs Neck, 8-1 in the clincher.

Pignetti, whose son is the team's second baseman, shepherded the boys this season.

"We weren't expecting much," he said. "We were able to keep advancing with good pitching. The hitting was great [and] we had phenomenal defense."

Massapequa was among nine teams participating in the East Regional. After falling to New Jersey, in the opening game, they were placed in the "losers bracket," where they needed to win three straight and stave off elimination.

Massapequa, who plays its regular season games at Burns Park, fell to the boys from Maryland on Friday.

The majority of the team will have to try anew in the squads for 15 and 16-year-olds next season.

"A couple of the kids would still be in the juniors, but most of them would advance to the senior division," he said.

Unlike the younger teams, the "13-14" players use the regulation-side diamond.

The Massapequa International girls' softball team is in the Little League World Series, while Massapequa Coast hopes to make it to Williamsport, PA. They were taking on the East Hanover, NJ team on Monday in the Metro Regional.