The Massapequa Coast Little League is heading to the regional tournament.

It's the first time in its 72-year history that the 12-year-old team has advanced to regionals with a chance to head to the Little League World Series.

The team won the New York State Little League Championship on a three-run homerun by Ryan Huksloot.

"You have to win states, which is really hard and now play state championships in your region," Huksloot says. "This competition is going to be tough, but I think we can pull away a win if we play hard and work together."

On Friday, the team had a special sendoff from John J. Burns Park as the boys head to Bristol, Connecticut, for the big game.

The coaches say earning the state title was a true team effort.

For head coach Roland Clark, it's a story that has come full circle. He played on the only other Massapequa Little League team to win a state title in 1989.

"To share that with my son and these boys and this town, it's truly remarkable," Clark says.

Massapequa's first game in the regionals is against New Jersey's Toms River League Saturday afternoon.