States Tournament Next Stop For New Rochelle Little League Team

NEW ROCHELLE — On Tuesday, the New Rochelle Little League team defeated a tough South Shore Staten Island team 6 to 4 to advance to the state championships for only the third time in history.

The team took home the Section Three South pennant on the road and there were no easy games on the path to victory. The win against South Shore Staten Island not only guaranteed a rare appearance at states along with only eight remaining New York teams in the age bracket, but it also marked the first time the New Rochelle team defeated any of the storied Staten Island teams in the playoffs.

The New Rochelle players defeated a Pelham team twice to win District 21 to advance to the sectionals. New Rochelle then beat NYC Peter Stuyvesant in the first round of sectional play. Eventually, the purple uniform-clad NRO teammates defeated South Shore Staten Island in both the second round of sectionals and again yesterday to take home the Section 3 South Championship.

NewRo Strong (Marisa Salera)

While each year, the Little League has the Williamsport World Series for the 12U age bracket, the 11U and 10U bracket championships are structured the same way, but both conclude by crowning either a state champ or regional champion. So, for these New Rochelle kids, the chance to compete on the weekend of July 24 and 25, really is their World Series opportunity.

New Rochelle! New Rochelle! New Rochelle! (Marisa Salera)