Staten Island on the brink after lopsided loss to open Little League World Series

A pitching duel gave way to an offensive explosion as Staten Island South Shore Little League found itself on the wrong end of a 9-1 loss to Nevada Paseo Verde in the opening game of the Little League World Series.

The loss puts the New York squad a defeat away from having its run in the tournament come to a quick end. The team will face Midwest Region champs Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday afternoon.

There are several moments Staten Island may reflect on and want back. One of those includes a play in the top of the fifth that halted momentum for the New Yorkers.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t hear, we couldn’t focus and we just weren’t ourselves today,’’ Staten Island Manager Bob Laterza told the Staten Island Advance. “We were out of sorts after spending the last five days [in Williamsport] like it was Disneyland and I don’t mean that in a bad way because they were treated like gold and deserve everything they got.

“I tried to get them (out of the funk) by blasting them like I always do, but it wasn’t happening today.”

Down 4-1 with one out and two runners on, Laterza made the call to send Chace Curro home from second on a single to left field by Dean Scarangello. The throw to the plate made it in time for Curro to be tagged out, preventing a crucial run from scoring.

Nevada starter Wyatt Erickson managed to get Zach Weiss to pop up on the next at-bat to end the inning and the scoring threat by Staten Island.

Nevada had broken open a scoreless tie in the third when Russell McGee sent a screamer up the middle to drive in a run with two outs and Erickson followed it up by hitting a two-run double to the wall.

Staten Island’s only run of the game came in the top of the fourth when Staten Island starting pitcher Stephen Grippo singled on a hard ground ball to right and scored Vincent Ruggiero to cut the deficit to three.

But Nevada added to its lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth on a wild pitch, then posted a three-run fifth inning.

Staten Island allowed nine runs on 11 hits, their pitchers combining for six strikeouts.

Grippo threw three innings, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out six batters. Jake Romero replaced him in the third and allowed four runs on three hits with three strikeouts.

Scarangello and Alex Torres each pitched an inning, as well.

Erickson pitched a complete game for Nevada, his second consecutive after throwing a no-hitter in the regional final.

Both starters had to work out of jams with runners on, including a first-inning situation for Grippo when he had runners on the corners with two outs.

“We got our backs to the wall — we now have to win or we go home,’’ Laterza said. “We’ll get them back to where they were, we have no choice.’’

Prior to the first pitch of Thursday’s game, New York City Mayor Eric Adams released a post on social media wishing Staten Island the best of luck along with a video of a phone call he had with the team.

Adams heralded the team’s 17-2 record going into the Little League World Series opener during the brief call with Laterza and the players.

“Go out there and win one for the home team,” Adams said in the video.