No one would have been surprised if Walpole, Massachusetts, pitcher Joseph Guarino Jr., was a little unnerved after serving up a two-run homer to Nick Petrovich of Shelton, Connecticut, in the top of the first inning of the New England regional championship game on Saturday. But the cool-as-a-cucumber righty settled down, got the next two batters to ground out and never looked back as the Walpole bats exploded for six runs in the bottom half of the frame and rolled to a 14-4 win.

Walpole chipped into the Shelton lead right away, as Michael LaVita's bases-loaded single tied things at 2-2. Walpole loaded the bases again right away in the first, and on the first pitch he saw, centerfielder Michael Rando hit a moon shot to put his team up, 6-2.

"It feels really good to put the team up by four runs," said a calm Rando afterwards.

Guarino stayed calm throughout, using a devastating knuckle-curve to scatter six more hits and two more runs over the next four innings. "He had his stuff going on today," said Walpole manager Brian Oberacker, speaking of Guarino. "He has ice water running through his veins."

Guarino wasn't the only one. Shortstop Johnny Adams belted two home runs, with John White, LaVita and Guarino adding solo shots to go with Rando's slam. Walpole pounded out 14 hits in the game, which ended when Matthew Bender doubled in the fifth and then scored from second on Adams' single and an errant throw to the plate. "These kids can hit from one to 13," remarked coach Jared Ruggieri.

"This team has been loose every time they've stepped on the field," said Oberacker. "At batting practice this morning, they were calm and relaxed. I knew something special was about to happen."

Walpole now advances to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where they'll face the Great Lakes champion on Friday, August 17.