NEW YORK – Danny Almonte took the mound at Shea Stadium on Friday night and proved that he is much more than the fraud many once thought he was.

The sophomore lefthander, who was the subject of intense scrutiny almost three years ago when he pitched in the Little League World Series despite being a year older than the tournament age limit, showed that he can do better than just hold his own against kids his own age.

Almonte was downright dominant in No. 1 Monroe’s 4-0 win over No. 2 George Washington in the PSAL city championship game in front of an estimated crowd of 5,000 at Shea. He struck out 11 and allowed just one hit while pitching a complete seven-inning game. Of his 89 pitches, 69 were strikes.

Almonte more than made up for his part in Monroe’s title-game loss to Tottenville last season, when he made a relief appearance and gave up the lead. He apparently is also on his way to rewriting a story that seemed like a tragedy not long ago.

“There’s no question about it,” said Monroe coach Mike Turo. “This is one of the biggest championship-game crowds I’ve seen and their eyes were on him and he had to prove himself.”

Almonte was his quiet self after receiving the game’s MVP award, showing hardly any emotion as a throng of reporters asked him questions on the field.

“This is the best performance I’ve had,” Almonte, from the Dominican Republic, said through an interpreter. “I’m real, real happy.”

Almonte struck out the first five batters he faced. Of the first 21 pitches he threw, 20 were strikes. It seemed like the count was 0-2 on every batter.

But George Washington starter Santiago Molina matched Almonte until the fourth, when the Trojans’ defense fell apart.