East Greenwich was not supposed to win the New Jersey state title if you believed... well me. Coming from South Jersey, the Section 4 champion is instantly the underdog once you get to the state final four. Nobody from Section 4 has won the state championship at the Little League majors level since South Vineland in 1991. That's a streak of 21 years.
The streak is over.
Even as the unbeaten team in the state championship game against Toms River East American, it felt like East Greenwich was an underdog. From the first inning, they didn't play like it. Five first-inning hits including RBI doubles from Hunter Kelly and Jonathon Burlingame pushed East Greenwich to a 4-2 victory. Josh Crowding added an RBI single in the decisive first inning as well. Before anyone at Wallingford Little League could get a Philly Cheesesteak from the concession stand, it was 4-0 East Greenwich.
Toms River was immediately forced into survival mode and went to its most effective starting pitcher in the last couple weeks, Dougie Pombo. The right-hander allowed just four more hits to East Greenwich and struck out six batters in 5 1/3 innings of relief, but the offense couldn't make the difference.
East Greenwich's defense helped its pitching-by-committee efforts with stellar defensive plays from the word go. Burlingame orchestrated two fantastic double plays and Miller and Shawn Dougherty took away sure-fire hits while roaming the outfield.
Toms River loaded the bases in the fourth but couldn't push a run across after a single by Maximus Rivas with two men on base. Finally in the fifth, TRE made its move. Pombo led off with a line drive home run to left field which sent the players and fans from the shore into frenzied chants of "Battle Sword," the nickname for Pombo's bat.
In the sixth inning, Jonny Munson led off with a double. He eventually scored on a Rivas grounder, but a Burlingame double play on the ball took a lot of wind out of Toms River's sails. TRE still didn't go away though. Nick Silvia and Pombo both singled with two outs. Danny Clemente ripped a line drive to right field, but it was caught and East Greenwich celebrated.
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East Greenwich played fundamental baseball with a great balance of hitting, pitching and fielding throughout the tournament. Well deserved! Congrats!!
ReplyDeleteWhen was the last time Section 4 hosted the states? I'm sure it's a lot harder for the teams from Section 4 when they have to drive so far to play. Look at this year, how far is the trip from EG? Two hours?
ReplyDeleteSection 4 hosts the state tournament every 4 years, just like every other section.
ReplyDeleteThe state tournament rotates between all four sections.
ReplyDeleteIt was in Monroe Twp in 2011 and Clayton in 2007.
Next year it will be in Section 3, and then back to Section 4 in 2015.
Northfield was talking about hosting in 2015
ReplyDeletepretty Hammonton is hostin in
ReplyDelete15 first LL in state of NJ and first outside st of penn