 Maybe 20 years from now we're gonna have a celebration of a Staten Island team winning the Little League World Series and Joe Calabrese Is their head coach and we'll have him on in 20 years God willing and he joins us now coach How you doing Michael K and Peter Rosenberg? Hello, hello Joe Hey, how you doing good? How are you? All right, not bad not bad doing pretty good. What's this whole experience felt like coach? It's been a great experience for my kids. I mean they're really enjoying it I put a lot of work to get into and get to this point and you know hard work it pays off and then they're learning that which is great For them as they get older and I'll become young man and an adult at some point I've always thought this coach and I'm glad that we could have you on and ask you This I mean this is big-time sports now I mean you're they're on TV every day and these are these are kids These are not adults. How do you keep it at a level that it doesn't overwhelm them? It's extremely difficult when you walk on that field and you see there's 15 10 15 thousand people sitting in the stands You know they they get the jitters a little bit, you know, and we spoke before we've been speaking all week about it And before the game I brought them out there when I told them take a look now guys Because once the game starts doesn't matter, you know what back home in mid-island We're playing in the schoolyard. It's all the same, you know So we try to keep them grounded and keep them focused on the task at hand They do a pretty good job at that. They're pretty focused And you know they determined and now they have goals. They got goals They said they want to win the little league World Series and they're pretty focused for a young group kids as a player Did you what was the what level did you make it to as a player coach? I? Played high school baseball That's as far as I went my brother will coach you with them all and Frank Then you know when my son actually plays in the Giants organization now Oh, wow, so it's in the blood But it still must be interesting when you're trying to get these kids to buckle down and be able to handle a high-pressure situation That I'm guessing for you sometimes. I don't know if I were you I'd look out and be like I'm glad it's these kids going up To bat not me. It's a lot of pressure Yeah, I gotta tell you some of these kids throw a mid 70s, which is like 95 96 You know it is a lot of pressure and you know they respond. Well, they do a great job these boys They they work hard all year even in the offseason they're training, you know speed and agility getting bigger getting stronger getting faster We've been working on this for three years when they started as 10 year olds at all starts the talk was always about you know Getting to Williamsport when we're 12 we're working now to get they went with 12 and it's been a long journey and and you know They did it they're here now and but we're not satisfied You know we want to keep moving on and and you know try to get that last banner Tell me about Greg Bruno the kid pitched a perfect game in the game that got you into the league world series He he won yesterday where you guys beat the team from Des Moines, Iowa to play in the second round on Sunday This kid doesn't seem like he gets nervous He I gotta tell you I mean he was a little rattled yesterday, you know, and he wasn't himself yesterday Um, but you know he didn't have his best stuff But he battled through and that that's what makes a good picture a great picture he competed And uh, you know, he got through it for us, but he's he's just a tremendous kid tremendous competitor He wants the ball in the big spot You know, I kind of I kind of brought him in there in a spot He really didn't get a chance to throw and get loose You know on the side before but um, you know, he stepped up and he did what he always does for us You know, he takes control of the game Is it is it a particular point of pride to see people rally around statin islands? I'll be honest coach and I'm in the hip hop scene also and I always have a going joke Whatever i'm hosting a show that unless it's a wu-tang concert, no one from statin islands there And it's it can be the forgotten borough in new york is it must be nice to feel new york rally around statin island for this team Yeah, it's a great feeling. I mean, you know When you have the whole city from what I hear, I mean we haven't been home in two weeks So, uh, you know, it's only what we're hearing and what we're seeing and all the calls and the taxes I'm getting but it's great to have the whole city behind you now And I mean each game we win i'm sure there's more people jumping on and getting behind us, you know and pushing us to the finish line So it is a great feeling and uh, it's good stuff. Joe Calabrese is our guest He's coaching the statin island little league team that has already won one game Uh in the little league world series There's a personal aspect to you with this as well coach you're coaching your nephew John jr. Calabrese and your brother john passed away in 2014 And from what I I've heard you wanted to get out of the league coaching before he passed away And when he passed away, he said, you know what it kind of energized you and you wanted to coach your nephew Yeah, I was coaching for about 15 years and and that last group of kids I had You know, my kids have been out for like eight years at that point seven eight years So but I stuck around because you know, you get attached to the kids and um It really is rewarding when you see these kids develop and and grow as as players and as individuals So but I was getting to the end of the rope and then uh in november of 14 My brother passed away suddenly and my nephew was eight at the time And I'll just turn the nine so um, you know at that point it immediately became my responsibility To take care of my nephew or my nieces. So um, you know, I stuck on board and and here we are four years later And uh good things to happen and I believe that he's with us and uh, he's behind us on this whole mission that we have And joe from what I heard john jr Has his dad's picture inside his hat every single game that must mean the world to you Yeah, he carries he carries the man's card with him. Uh, it's always in his hat, you know, and um, he's behind He's behind them and you know, he thinks about him all the time and It's extremely difficult for the family But I mean it's times like this that that really uh make it make it a little easier I think because you know, we know he's with us And he'd be really proud of how great his son's doing and he's he's come up in some clutch situations Had some big plays and uh had some big hits and it's it's really really been great for him And uh for the whole family. All right, so your next game is sunday Uh, it's the winner of new england versus the southwest regional. Do you know anything about these teams before you face them coach? I watched them yesterday. Texas won the game. Uh, they're a good team It's scrappy. They're good defensively. They swing it pretty good and and they got good pitching there. They're very very similar to us So, uh, you know, it should be a good game. We got our guy in the mound I think my guy's the best out there. So, uh, I'm confident that we're going to get the job done Who's the kid that's pitching on sunday? Let's give him some love Uh, gregory bruno. He's our guy. Oh, there you go Great stuff. I mean everybody here at the station is rooting for you And as you said the entire city rallies around you and we want to see you come back as champions And well, you've done so far. It's just amazing and I happen to love frank menekino I think he's an awesome guy. So I didn't even know you guys were related So say hello to him and uh, just have a good time with the kids. We appreciate what you're doing, coach Uh, I appreciate thanks for the call and uh, we're gonna do our best and you know, I'm really confident that we're gonna get it done