It’s every Little Leaguer’s dream ? to get up there in the last inning during the Little League World Series, and come through with the game-winning hit.Saugus American’s Dave Ferreira not only lived the dream, he saw it through to the end. Ferreira’s infield hit – which he barely beat out – scored Dario Pizzano with the game-winning run in a wild and extremely wooly 14-13 comeback win over Texas in the U.S. semifinal game of the 2003 LLWS in Williamsport, PA.The heart-stopping victory, along with the entire trip to Williamsport, was the unanimous choice among the Item staff as the top story of the decade.Other noteworthy stories: The demolition and rebirth of Manning Bowl/Field; The five-year run of the North Shore Spirit; the forced exits of four of the area’s enduring coaching legends: Ron Bennett, Ed Nizwantowski, Frank DeFelice and Bob Tierney; the merging of all three Lynn public school hockey teams into one program; the exploits of St. Mary’s girls hockey star Abby Gauthier; the threatened demise of entire sports programs in Swampscott, Saugus and Winthrop; and the elimination of the AD’s job in Marblehead.Also: The Jack O’Brien’s saga at Lynn English ? and the happy ending that came out of it; back-to-back state titles for Saugus hockey and St. Mary’s boys basketball; all four of Lynn’s boys basketball teams reaching the North Sectional finals in 2001; the East Lynn Pop Warner cheerleaders winning the national championship in 2007; Peabody West’s trip to the Little League World Series this past summer; the trials and tribulations of Peabody’s Jeff Allison; Antonio Anderson’s contributions to the Memphis men’s basketball team, culminating in the Tigers making the national final in 2008; Olympic bronze medals won by Lynn native Jim Pedro in judo, and Shalane Flanagan of Marblehead in long-distance running.Also: The gold medal-performance of Marblehead native Tyler Hamilton, and his difficulties thereafter; The Lynn Babe Ruth 16-and-under softball team’s trip to the World Series in 2000; Former St. John’s Prep and BC quarterback Brian St. Pierre’s success; and Swampscott native Dick Jauron being named coach of the year in the NFL in 2001.The Boys of Saugus: The story began in June of 2003 when the Americans began the District 16 tournament. They blew the field away, but were tested more in the sectionals, and needed to win a doubleheader to advance.They then swept through the state tournament and the New Englands without losing a game, and played three close games in Williamsport to make it to the national semifinals.There, against Texas, Saugus took a 10-2 lead only to see it evaporate as the Texans took a 13-10 lead.Saugus stormed back, and Ferreira’s infield hit capped a game that was deemed an instant classic by no less authority than ESPN Classic. It was one of three nominees for an ESPN Espy as best game of the year.From the ashes: The new Manning Field literally sprung up from the ashes of its demolition. The facility was condemned in 2004, torn down by the middle of ’05, and then slowly rebuilt into a sparkling new modern facility, with the ability to accommodate so many sports that it is in almost constant use.Last year alone, Manning Field hosted football playoff games, the Northeastern Conference track meet, and both lacrosse and soccer tournament games. The complex, which also includes a refurbished Fraser Field, is easily one of the best in Massachusetts.Spirits in the Sky: Norman Greenbaum’s 1970 hit was the North Shore Spirit’s theme song, and for five years, the team, owned by Nick Lopardo, did its best to thrive in a city not known for being able to hold onto its minor league franchises.The Spirit lasted five years, longer than many of the other pro teams that have come to Fraser Field. But in the end, Lopardo, who poured $3 million of his own money into bringing Fraser up to pro baseball standards, didn’t see enough of a return on his investment, and folded after the 2007 season.Three times during those