Floral Park Little Leaguers meet the Mets

The mantels and desk tops of the 13- and 14-year-olds on the Floral Park Little League baseball team have become littered with awards - trophies, banners and plaques to commemorate their historic run - but this summer's most prized souvenirs, said 13-year-old Kevin Coyne, are the autographed balls from their idols.

After becoming the first team from the town to win a state championship in their age division, the Floral Park boys were honored last Tuesday by the Mets at Citi Field. The festivities included a meet-and-greet with the players, the team's introduction on the stadium monitor, and an evening capped by a 4-3 win over the Brewers.

"You watch them on TV and then they're standing there next to you, talking to you," said Coyne, the team's third baseman and a big Mets fan. "I played it cool, but I was nervous on the inside."

That, actually, was one of the few celebrations that didn't end with Floral Park getting soaked . . . really.

"We have a tradition that if you win a championship, everyone goes back to the pool and jumps in with their uniforms on," said manager Chris Coyne, Kevin's father. "Coaches, too."

Dip 1: When they claimed the district title in a 7-2 win against Franklin Square.

Dip 2: That followed their 13-8 victory over the Bronx in the sectionals.

But the biggest splash came when they topped Olean in the state final. More so because it was a 7-6 nail-biter.

Floral Park's offense erupted - Kyle Stelzer's three-run double put them up 7-3 in the fifth - but with emergency starter Dylan Early tiring and Alex Cerrone, who hurt his ankle in the first inning, having to re-enter in the sixth, the game became tense. Cerrone, however, was able to bear down and close it out.

"[The pitchers] really toughed it out and took one for the team," Kevin Coyne said. "That was clutch."