BRISTOL, CONN. -- When Mid-Island 12s All Stars team takes the field Saturday for the Mid-Atlantic Regional championship game, the team will be playing for more than just themselves.

Player John Calabrese's father, John Sr., died suddenly on Nov. 22, 2014. The Annadale resident was 45 years old.

He was vibrant. He was healthy. He was working out at a gym in Florida.

Needless to say, it was a tragic shock to the Calabrese family.

"For his son, his daughters, his wife, it was absolutely heartbreaking," said Joe Calabrese, his brother and current manager of the dominant Mid-Island team.

"You can't even imagine something like that happening."

John Calabrese Sr. was known as a successful businessman who, no matter what, put family before anything -- especially his son's Little League baseball games in Travis.

"He'd show up at his son's games in suits and ties straight from work to cheer him on," said Joe Calabrese. "He was always there for John Jr."

After John's death, Joe -- who managed another Mid-Island squad and was getting ready to hang up his coaching cleats -- felt reinvigorated for an opportunity to coach his grieving nephew.

"At that time, I thought I was at the end of my tenure for Little League," he said. "But once my brother passed, I was locked and loaded again to coach John and the boys."

But it was about more than just baseball for Joe. It was about being there for his brother's family.

Just like his brother would have done.

"It was not even a question that it was my obligation to step in and take care of my nephew and nieces -- at whatever capacity that may be," Joe said.

"It's what my brother John would have done for me."

AN ANGEL IN THE OUTFIELD

It's been three years since Joe has been coaching his nephew, John, but this season, Joe Calabrese felt something special.

"We're dedicating this season to the memory of my brother John," he said in June during a preseason meeting with the parents of his players.

And, of course, every parent, player and assistant coach was on board.

"Those were the first words he said at the meeting," said John Jr., first baseman for the Mid-Island team one win away from reaching the Little League World Series.

"When I heard my uncle say that, I knew it meant my dad would be helping us this season."

Since the start of this epic tournament run, John Jr. has worn his Mid-Island cap with a picture of his dad on the inside.

"It means he's always with me out there," he said.

FINISH WHAT THEY STARTED

There's no question that this Staten Island team is special; the record speaks for itself.

At 3-0, Mid-Island is the only unbeaten team in the six-team double-elimination tournament. On top of that, the team hasn't lost a game in almost two years.

For Manager Calabrese, the team's success is no coincidence.

"This feels like a team of destiny," he said. "We have an angel in the outfield looking over us."

Mid-Island will face either Maryland (3-1) or New Jersey (1-1) in the championship game of the Mid-Atlantic Regional with a berth in the Little League World Series on the line.

And while winning feels like everything to this dedicated team of scrappers and hustlers, Joe Calabrese said his nephew's happiness is what really drives him.

"I'm happy for his son," Joe said of his late brother. "To give John some enjoyment throughout this magical ride, in honor of his father, that's a really special thing."

John Jr. knows his dad would be proud of how he plays and how his uncle coaches him.

"My uncle is great because he can be tougher on me sometimes so that I play harder," he said. "That's what my dad always said -- play your hardest."

The bond between nephew and uncle has never been stronger.

"I'm never going to replace his father," Joe said. "But I'll always be there to fill any need for John."

It's certainly hard not to root for this team.