With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, and the game tied at five, Staten Island South Shore Little Leagues Peter Giaccio was determined to end the game when he stepped into the batters box. I told him were taking one pitch, Staten Island manager Bob Laterza told The Post about the moment. He says, I dont care how many pitches we take, Im winning this game. Giaccio did just that, to drive home Dylan Degaeta to lift Staten Island to Jalen Harris Jersey a 6-5 win over East Lyme, Conn., and punch their ticket to the Metro Regional final on Friday night against Morristown, N.J. The winner advances to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. The Staten Islands South Shore Little Little League is one win away from the LLWS. Photo Courtesy of Christine Iraci Staten Island battled throughout the game in Bristol, Conn., and erased two different deficits to pull out the hard-fought win. Explore More These kids wont give up, Laterza said. Theyre playing in our league for four years. This is where they want to be, this is what its all about to get there and theyre taking the most of this opportunity. Peter Giaccio delivers a walk-off single for Staten Islands South Shore Little League on Aug. 7, 2024. ESPN Down 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth, Vin Ruggiero scored on a double to pull Staten Island to within one. Jake Romero drove in Giaccio in the next at-bat to tie the game at five and set the stage for the game-winning hit two innings later. Dean Scarangello got the win for Staten Island, striking out five and giving up just one run after relieving Ruggiero to start the fourth inning. Staten Island now has the chance to not only punch its ticket to the Little League World Series, but it can get a bit of redemption against New Jersey after a tough 11-1 lo s earlier in the regionals. Peter Giaccio is interviewed after his walk-off single for Staten Island on Aug. 7. Courtesy of Peter Giacco Sr. Laterza said the teams focus for Fridays regional final is to just play their game and was confident if that happened then everything will fall into place. It has taken a long time for State Island South Shore Little to come this close to a chance to make it to the Little League World Series. The closest they came was back in 2001, Laterza said, before they were eliminated in the Mid-Atlantic Regional by the Rolando Paulino All-Stars from The Bronx, which was later was actually 14 years old. Now theyre one win away from reaching Williamsport. Its something [the players] dream about and were one step away from it happening, Laterza said. Oshae Brissett Jersey