Port Washington made its debut look effortless.
Playing in the program’s first Little League World Series regional game, the New York state champions showed little sign of nerves Saturday evening, rolling past Lincoln, R.I., 10-3 at Leon J. Breen Field in Bristol, Conn.
The Long Island squad wasted no time setting the tone. In the top of the first inning, left fielder Carlo Cafferata ripped a run-scoring double, and first baseman Max Dempsey followed by driving in another run on a bases-loaded fielder’s choice.
Port Washington threatened again in the third, loading the bases against Lincoln pitcher Tucker Choiniere. Jackson Lockhart moved from left field to the mound in an effort to limit the damage, but third baseman Jack Gomez answered with a deep single near the warning track that plated two more runs and extended the advantage to 4-0.
The pressure continued moments later. Center fielder Walter Cassens came home after advancing on a bases-loaded error, and catcher Michael Gabriel drew an RBI walk to push Port Washington’s lead to 6-0.
On the mound, Drew Theoharis gave Port Washington two scoreless innings before Lincoln finally broke through in the bottom of the third. Choiniere delivered an RBI double and later scored on a fielder’s choice, trimming the deficit to 6-2.
Theoharis exited after three innings plus one batter, finishing a strong outing with three strikeouts while allowing just one hit before Cafferata took over pitching duties.
Port Washington added to its cushion in the fourth, when second baseman Jackson Gorynski lined an RBI double off Lincoln reliever Milo Sheridan to make it 7-2.
Cafferata’s pitching was disrupted in the bottom of the fifth inning by a 75-minute lightning delay. He gave up a run on a wild pitch but kept control with runners on first and second with a huge inning-ending strikeout of Lockhart with two runners on.
Port continued the hit parade into the final inning with shortstop Brandon Kien driving in two runs with a single. He advanced to second on the play after a throwing error.
Kien then scored from second on a wild pitch and errant throw to third to push the lead to 10-3.
Gorynski came on to close in the sixth and worked himself out of a bases-loaded, two-out jam by getting infielder Eli Lambert to pop out.
Port is now two wins away from Williamsport, Pa., and will play Monday in the winners bracket at 1 p.m. A victory will put them in the Metro Region finals.
A Monday loss isn’t doomsday, as Port would then have a double-elimination game Wednesday night for a spot in the tristate championship.
