RGMVM advances to NYC final

Last year, Ken Sumsky didn't play on the RGMVM Little League tournament team in his age group because he wanted to spend time swimming at his family's beach house on Staten Island. This summer, the Middle Village resident is not only a vital part of the first Major Division (11- and 12-year-olds) team from the western Queens Little League to reach the New York City (Section 3) final in eight years, but he was the star of the semifinal win. Sumsky had two hits, including a two-run single in the third to break open RGMVM's 8-0 trouncing of the Bayside Little League Monday afternoon in Dutchess County.
&#8220I think we're going to go pretty far,” he said. &#8220We're really confident and we all have faith in each other. … We're going all the way.”
The result for RGMVM, the District 27 champions, was never in doubt because of the dominance of Marco Martino. He allowed just four base-runners to reach - two singles and two walks - and struck out nine, adding three hits and an RBI. Sal Ciccone also tripled and scored twice and Rob Shanley and Kevin Lawlor each chipped in with an RBI. RGMVM will play later this week in the Sectional Final in Yonkers at Schultz Little League Field. If they win, they would go to Albany for the New York State tournament; last year's Junior Division (13- and 14-year-olds) team is the only one to go upstate in league history.
A first-inning throwing error scored Nicholas Picht and Martino, then Lawlor drove in a run with a single and Sumsky plated two with a long single to centerfield, scoring Lawlor and Mike Guglielmi. Martino and Shanley each drove in runs in the fifth.
&#8220We just came out and hit the ball,” said Manager Richie Callahan, denying any shock at the team's success. &#8220I don't expect us to lose. I go in every game thinking they are going to win. Maybe if we go to the States it would be unexpected if we win.”
Although Callahan said this is one of the better teams he's managed, others expressed surprise at how far this group has gotten. &#8220If they get past this, that'll be big,” said RGMVM President Pat Piteo. &#8220Then they would go to the States. They kind of surprised us. We knew they were good, we just didn't know how good.”
In the Major Division a season ago, they didn't even win their district, losing to the Ozone-Howard Little League. But this squad has benefited by many new additions, such as Martino, Shanley and Sumsky. &#8220There's no real MVP,” Callahan said. &#8220They're all good. There's a different hero every day.”
– Zachary Braziller