Massapequa Coast prepares for Little League World Series test

Welcome to the underdog days of summer.

It’s been a year like no other for the boys of Massapequa Coast, pride and joy of Long Island, waiting on pins and needles in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, for tonight’s Little League World Series game — the team’s first.

Kicking off the double-elimination tournament against the heavily favored 2018 championship team from Honolulu is just another day on the field for the miracle squad.

But while the six-inning showdown is sure to be anything but a shoo-in, with the Hawaiian team favored to sweep, Coast manager Roland Clark told The Post that his boys absolutely have a fighting chance.

“[Honolulu has] a couple of returning players from last year, they seem to be in their element. I think for our boys, once we take that field for our pregame warm-up, they’ll be in their element too,” said Clark, whose son Michael plays third base.

Coast capped their Metro region, World Series ticket-punching, 4-0 win with pitcher Joey Lionetti throwing a no-hitter against perennial New Jersey powerhouse Toms River East last Friday, in Bristol, Connecticut.

Just to move off Long Island, Coast had to defeat their rival crosstown squad Massapequa International twice.

These David vs. Goliath victories caught America’s attention — Lionetti’s performance was replayed on “SportsCenter.” The team’s triumph made national headlines. The New York Islanders and former perfect game Yankees pitcher David Cone have publicly wished the Coast well. Clark said they expect a near-capacity 20,000 fans in attendance at tonight’s game. Lionetti, 12, is itching for another big win.

“Everything that we’ve done [this summer] has been such a big thing for me, it’s been such a good experience,” Lionetti told The Post. “I would die to do it again.”

The ace pitcher added that going back to Berner Middle School to start seventh grade in September after their summer of dreams will be a surreal experience for himself and the squad.

“Everybody will be saying, ‘I saw you on TV, great job,’ ya know. I’ll share the stories [from Williamsport] and it’ll be so cool.”

Adding to the hype, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman — who attended last Friday’s big game —  called Coast “America’s Team.” Judging by the reception in Williamsport, the tournament’s hometown, that’s more than just talk.

“We are celebrities right now, we are being treated like professional athletes,” said Coach Clark. “I’ve gotten to speak to people from all over the world, saying, ‘Hey coach, we saw you on TV, you have a great team, we loved watching you play.’ “

Back in Massapequa, where the town held a full-house watch party at the team’s home field at Burns Park for the Toms River game, the mood is high. They’ll host another celebration tonight. The town’s most iconic restaurant, the neon-lit All American burger joint on Merrick Road, now sports a sizeable banner cheering on Coast. Lionetti smiled at the news — it’s one of his favorites.

“That’s very cool,” he enthused.

All American is not the only culinary institution getting in on the fanfare. Blakeman has a running bet with Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, over who will win — a pizza from Pappalardo’s Pizza Cove on the north side of Massapequa, against a case of macadamia nuts, a favorite Hawaiian snack.

Still, Blakeman, who is more than confident in the squad, isn’t taking any chances. “I’m a little superstitious, so I’m going to wear the same outfit that I wore to Bristol,” he told The Post.