LAPLACE – While most 2019 high school graduates are shopping for dorm supplies and preparing to head off to college, Nick Lorio is hoping to extend his summer as long as he can.

The former St. Charles Catholic Comet and Delgado-bound freshman is a pitcher/outfielder for the Pedal Valves Cardinals, who are headed to the American Legion World Series in Shelby, N.C.

The team, which is based out of Destrehan but pulls players from around the New Orleans Metropolitan area, clinched its spot Sunday with a 4-2 victory over Tupelo, Miss., in the Southeast Regional in Tampa, Fla. The very next morning the team was on a chartered bus headed for North Carolina.

The Cardinals will play in the opening game of the World Series Thursday at 9 a.m. against Illinois. The game is scheduled to be televised on ESPN3.

“I’m not ready for summer to be over just yet,” Lorio said from the team bus that was travelling up the Florida coast. “It’s going to be the experience of a lifetime.”

Lorio was an All-State pitcher on the Comets’ squad and he was on the mound when St. Charles Catholic captured its first baseball state championship in May. Lorio then was selected the Amateur Athlete of the Month for June by the Greater New Orleans Sports Award Selection Committee sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl. In the month of June he went 3-1 and batted .373 with one home run, 12 doubles and 31 RBIs in 26 games for Pedal Valves.

The Cardinals have been on a tear this summer, amassing a 35-8 record to win their district, state and regional titles.

Now in its fourth season, Pedal Valves won state and advanced to the Mid-South regional in 2016 but went 0-2 at their regional in Arkansas. This is the second straight year for a Louisiana team to reach the series. The Gonzales-based Gauthier-Amedee team made it to the semifinals last year.

According to American Legion baseball, the New Orleans area has played a record 75 American Legion World Series games, posting a record of 43-31-1.

“We are thrilled to finally be a part of the American Legion World Series,” said head coach Danny Riehm. “It was a building process for our program, getting closer with each regional, and we were finally able to break through. It’s a great honor.”

Riehm said Lorio has played a big part in this year’s journey.

“He’s been one of our leaders,” Riehm said. “He comes to play each and every day. He brings a ton of energy and toughness to our ball club. Without him, we probably aren’t headed to Shelby.”

The Cardinals were without him a few times last week, however. He had to leave Friday’s game against West Tampa due to heat-related issues – after going 2-for-3 with a double and a triple for 2 RBIs– and had to receive intravenous fluids. He then missed Friday’s 13-4 win over Tupelo and pitched only one inning in a 9-7 loss to Troy, Ala., on Saturday and recorded only one at bat – an RBI single.

“It was difficult (not to play) because I wanted to be out there with my team,” he said. “It was hard to watch them knowing I couldn’t play, but I knew that they had my back and they were going to hold it down.”

Lorio said he is fine now, however. He returned for the championship game on Sunday and hit an RBI triple in the first inning to help set the tone for the game.

“He also made about three diving catches in the outfield,” Riehm said. “He’s definitely back to himself.”