If Greater Largo Little League’s senior division team is going to make it to its first World Series, it won’t have to travel very far to do so.
The team is one of seven state championship clubs competing in the Southeast Regional tournament starting Saturday in Safety Harbor, with the winner earning a trip to the Little League World Series beginning on August 10 in Bangor, ME.
Largo’s impressive 9-1 postseason record, which includes four wins in three days to capture the state championship in Cocoa Beach last weekend, has featured nail biters and blowout victories.
Manager Dan Guido says despite all the drama, and a number of lengthy weather delays, his team has been enjoying the ride.
“We’ve been late to get it going in almost every game during this stretch, but we’ve come back to win almost every game,” he said during the team’s practice at the Highland Rec field on Tuesday.
“And it’s because our pitching has been great, our hitting has been timely, and all our coaching decisions have been working. It’s been a total team effort.”
Two of the big contributors to Largo’s third state championship win in the last five years were lanky lefthanded pitcher James Emery and slugging catcher/third baseman Drew Guido.
Guido, the coach’s son who also plays on Largo High’s varsity team, has hit five home runs in the playoffs, including two blasts to go along with four RBIs in the team’s state final win over Union Park last Sunday.
“I knew I had to turn it up in the championship game, because I’d been slumping a bit,” he said. “I had to do whatever I could to help the team win.”
“I know Largo has never made it this far before, so I’m hoping I can stay hot and we can keep winning and move on to the World Series.”
Emery has not only been carrying a heavy workload on the mound, racking up a 35-inning scoreless streak while helping lead the team to a 19-2 record in the regular season, but he has been dealing with a much heavier issue off the field.
The sophomore’s mom had been battling cancer while the team has been on this run; Pam Emery passed away on Wednesday, just three days after her son pitched a complete game in the state title-clinching win.
“Me and my dad were just crying in each other’s arms after the championship game,” James said on Tuesday. “I’m just glad she knows we won it.”
“I pretty much dedicated this whole season to my mom,” he added. “It’s been hard, but I’ve never played like this before in my life. I think she has a lot to do with it.”
Coach Guido thinks as long as the club keeps playing hard and striving to get better every game, they can become the first team from Greater Largo Little League to make it to the World Series.
And having the regional finals ten miles from home certainly won’t hurt.
“I keep saying ‘why not us?’” he said. “We’re playing just as good as anybody right now, so we have just as good a chance to keep winning.”
“The stars seem to be aligning - we have the regional final right in our backyard,” he added. “I told the kids it’s destiny.”
For the complete 2014 Southeast Regional schedule, including matchups and times, visit Little League Baseball.com or the Florida District 12 website.