Photo courtesy of Eddie Kelly
The Throggs Neck Little League team for 13- and 14-year-olds was crowned state champions last month for the first time in league history.
Led by coach Anthony Raneri, who has lived in Throggs Neck his entire life, the kids showed what it takes to be a winner. Raneri, who played in Little League himself and has been a coach for a decade, said they always get knocked out in the playoffs by a team from Long Island.
But this summer it was different.
“They were pretty talented,” Raneri said. “I expected us to go pretty far. We don’t usually make it past the state tournament.”
The team traveled to Massapequa, Long Island, the week of July 10, and had to beat six teams. Teams were only allowed to lose one game, and if they did, they had to win two games in a row.
Throggs Neck suffered a loss but then rebounded by beating Pine Bush twice.
“It’s very difficult to beat the same team twice in one day,” Raneri said.
According to Raneri, winning the state championship was a dream come true for these kids and a time they will never forget.
The team then competed in the Eastern Regional Championships in DuBois, Pennsylvania. Raneri said the kids are ready to show the other states what Throggs Neck is all about.
“We were confident,” he said. “We were probably the best team there. After we won the state tournament, we felt like we could beat anyone.”
At the Eastern Regionals, Throggs Neck scored 15 runs in the first game, but fatigue began to set in as the team lost its final two games 2-1 to DuBois.
“I was proud of them and how far they came,” Raneri said. “I think we just ran into some really good pitchers.”
Raneri thanked his coaches Vito Messina and AJ Macli and said he sees a bright future for the players on the diamond.
“The kids loved it every step of the way,” he said. “It brought me a lot of joy, but also sadness at the end.”
