Port Washington Little League sets sight on Metro Region baseball tournament
The Port Washington Little League 12U baseball team meets after a game during the state tournament last month. Credit: Howard Simmons
After becoming the first Port Washington Little League baseball team to win a New York state championship, the 12U all-stars have arrived at the next step in their summer journey.
Port Washington opens the Metro Region tournament against Rhode Island champion Lincoln Little League at 4 p.m. Saturday at the East Region Headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut. For a team that has already made a statement, league president Eric Trenaman said another opportunity awaits.
“These 11 young men set out at the beginning of the year, just like thousands of other teams in this country,” Trenaman said. “They bought into a vision, bought into a dream and they leave it out on the field every day. It’s been a phenomenal thing for us to all get together and watch.”
Port Washington earned its regional berth by defeating Mid Island (Staten Island), 11-5, in the state championship game on July 31. The club went 4-1 in the state tournament, relying on timely hitting, steady pitching and dependable defense throughout the week.
Port Washington manager Dave Gabriel said he believes the road to Bristol prepared his team for the challenge ahead.
“Long Island baseball is really, really good,” Gabriel said. “There’s so much good competition so for us to get through districts, for us to get through sectionals, it was hard. States was no easier so for us to be the last team standing was something special.”
The four-team, double-elimination Metro Region tournament also includes Darien (Connecticut) and Bayonne (New Jersey), with the winner earning a trip to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
For fans who can’t make the trip to Bristol, the Port Washington community is hosting a big-screen watch party at the Jeanne Rimsky Landmark Theater, with doors opening at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
The week between tournaments has been less about making major adjustments and more about sharpening the details that helped Port Washington reach this point. Gabriel said the team has been focusing on facing different pitch speeds and fielding coverages while also staying rested.
“We just want to keep the kids sharp,” Gabriel said. “We’ve been doing a lot of infield/outfield work, a lot of pitching and facing different looks. We want to keep them fresh, but we don’t want to overwork them either, so we’ve been balancing that in practice all week.”
For the team’s first time in Bristol, the tournament marks unfamiliar territory. The teams stay together in dormitory-style housing, share meals and activities throughout the week and compete on a national stage with a berth in Williamsport on the line.
For Port Washington’s players, the experience extends beyond the diamond.
“I’m really looking forward to staying in the bunks, doing all the activities and, of course, playing in the games,” Walter Cassens said. “I’m especially looking forward to the games and playing with my team.”
Mikey Catuogno said the excitement from winning the state title has only fueled the team’s confidence entering regionals.
“Getting that final out was a crazy feeling because we made history,” Catuogno said. “We put a lot of energy and a lot of work into this, so it felt good. We’ve been practicing every day, so I feel like we deserve this.”
While the stakes have grown with each tournament, Gabriel said he wants his team’s mindset unchanged. The pressure of playing for a trip to the Little League World Series can be overwhelming to some, but he wants his players focused on enjoying the moment they’ve earned.
“I’m a dad and, at the end of the day when I’m coaching these kids, sometimes I have to step back,” Gabriel said. “You have to ask yourself, ‘Why am I here?’ and I'm doing it for these little guys. There’s a lot of pressure in this moment, but we have to make sure these kids are having fun. That’s our biggest job as coaches.”
And the entire Port Washington community hopes that approach carries into Saturday’s opener against Lincoln.
“I want to see these kids compete on the field against the best teams in the region,” Gabriel said. “It’s going to be awesome. They’ve put so much work in this summer and, if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. We look forward to competing and putting our best effort forward.”
Tess Ferguson is a reporter on Newsday's high school sports staff. She joined the team after graduating with a journalism degree from Ithaca College in 2025.
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