RGMVM 10-11-year-olds win first ever New York State crown

As a player in the Ridgewood - Glendale - Middle Village – Maspeth (RGMVM) Little League, Steve Adams didn’t enjoy much success. He failed to win a district title at any level before going on to play at Monsignor McClancy High School and Manhattan College.
His legacy as a coach, however, is much different. In fact, he has accomplished more than any other manager in the history of the 55-year-old western Queens Little League.
After leading the 9- and 10-year-old tournament team to a city title and runner-up finish in the New York State tournament last summer, he guided them to the state crown this August, the first such championship for RGMVM.
“It’s a tremendous honor,” he said. “To come back and actually win it is a great accomplishment. I feel good for the kids.”
After dropping the opening game of the tournament, they came out of the loser’s bracket to take the New York State title winning their final four games. RGMVM capped the streak with an 11-3 win over Haverstraw Little League, their second win over them in as many games, at the Van Ness Little League field in the Bronx.
They trailed 2-0 early, but Gerard Fraracci drove in one run, Dan Ammirati knocked in four runs with a pair of doubles, Brandon Acosta smacked a three-run homer, and pitcher Chris Piteo also went yard and went the distance.
After dropping the opening game of the state tournament, 9-6 to Brighton Little League, RGMVM’s odds did not look so good. Their five-game winning streak was snapped, and one more loss would end their title hopes.
“I thought our chances were pretty slim,” Adams said, “but I knew we were talented enough.”
Indeed, they were. In Game 2 of the state tournament, RGMVM topped Rockville Center (Long Island), 6-3, despite trailing by a run with three outs to go in their season. With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom half of the sixth inning, Karl Klesin laced a 2-1 fastball over the wall in center, keeping RGMVM alive for another day.
Up next, RGMVM got revenge against Brighton, routing them 10-0. The win advanced them to the finals against Haverstraw, although RGMVM needed to win twice to gain the historic crown.
Again, they trailed in the first few innings, only to come storming back. Austin Nieves drove in two runs with a single, Piteo added a sacrifice fly and a run-scoring double, Tully homered, and Ammirati scored the game-winning run when Haverstraw threw away KC Surdi’s sacrifice bunt attempt in the sixth inning. Paul Hyland pitched a perfect sixth for the win. It set up the dynamic capper, when they bludgeoned Haverstraw for 11 runs.
The team was in the state tournament because of Piteo’s right arm. He pitched a complete-game one-hitter, blanking Mid Island Little League (Staten Island), 3-1, in Brooklyn for the team’s second city championship in as many years. Fraracci doubled in a run, Tully ripped a two-run homer, and Piteo struck out nine in the complete-game effort.
“He’s the leader of our team,” Adams said.
Since winning the momentous crown, Adams watched every game of the Little League World Series on ESPN and ESPN2 in Williamsport, PA. There is a method to his madness - next year, this group will vie for a spot in the 11-12-year-old division that plays on national television in the international tournament.
“Talent-wise, we’re good enough to get there,” Adams said. “You need everything to fall the right way; you need some breaks, need some calls. Everything needs to go in your favor. I haven’t talked to them about it, but the kids know we’re pretty good and they realize it’s a possibility.”