Road to Little League World Series: New Hyde Park eliminated
New Hyde Park 12-year-olds hold their championship banner after winning the District 29 championship. Friday marks the start of Long Island's eight district champions competing for the sectional, state and regional titles -- potentially earning a spot as the Mid-Atlantic representative at this year's 66th Little League World Series. Credit: Handout
Four big games took place Tuesday as seven of Long Island's district champs in the 12-year-old group were in action on their journey to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
New Hyde Park Little League opened up their tournament play against Kingsbridge Little League of District 23 at Rath Park in Franklin Square. But their playoff run ended as Kingsbridge put on a hitting display, eliminating New Hyde Park from the sectional tournament 13-0.
Undefeated North Bellmore-North Merrick continued their dominant play Tuesday night as they defeated Plainview with a 4-0 win in six innings at Seamen’s Neck Park in Seaford.
Nick Valeriano threw 5.1 innings of one hit ball, before Jack Delaney closed out the shutout. North Bellmore-North Merrick has completed three shutouts in four games, allowing only one run in 20 innings of play.
With that win, North Bellmore-North Merrick is 4-0 and has clinched a spot in the finals.
Commack South played Sayville under the lights at Otsego Park in Dix Hills. In a close six-inning game, Sayville defeated Commack South 8-7. This puts Sayville’s record at 2-2 and Commack South’s to 3-1.
Port Washington and Southampton which have struggled so far in sectional play, faced off Tuesday at North Shore Complex in Rocky Point. Southampton won 11-5 in six innings. But both Port Washington and Southampton are out of contention for the finals.
Four more games are scheduled for Thursday night that will set the stage for the finals in both Section 5 and Section 6.
The three Section 6 games Thursday bring up a very intriguing second place scenario.
Plainview will play Southampton; Sayville plays Port Washington. Commack South will play the undefeated North Bellmore-North Merrick team.
If Commack South wins, they are in the finals. But if they lose and Plainview, Sayville or both teams win their games, there will be a two- or three-way tie with multiple teams at 3-2.
Long Island’s other district champ still alive in the tournament, Lynbrook, competes in Section 5 with teams from New York City in a bracket where one loss eliminates a team.
While New Hyde Park has been eliminated from the tournament with their Tuesday night loss, Lynbrook has automatically advanced to the semifinals as their opponent forfeited their spot in the tournament.
The games on tap for Thursday night include:
Southampton plays Plainview 5:45 p.m. at Central Nassau Field in Westbury.
Port Washington takes on Sayville 6 p.m. at Lions Field in Port Washington.
Commack South battles North Bellmore-North Merrick 8 p.m. at Otsego Park in Dix Hills.
Lynbrook plays in the semifinals 5:30 p.m. at Van Nest Little League’s field against the winner of the matchup between District 26 and 27.
