GREENVILLE, NC — The World Series Championship dream ended a little bit too soon for the Toms River Little League Softball All-Stars.
Toms River held an early lead but fell to Kentucky 2-1 on Saturday in the Orange bracket championship game.
The loss moves Toms River into Sunday's third-place game, set for 10 a.m. on ESPN. They will play the loser of Saturday evening's game between North Carolina and Florida.
Toms River played strong defense again behind Jaelyn Brown, who struck out three and walked one while allowing eight hits.
Brown also drove in Toms River's lone run as they struggled to generate offense against Kentucky's pitcher, Michaela Knight. Knight held Toms River, the Mid-Atlantic Region champions, to five hits while striking out six batters.
Kentucky also made some key plays that thwarted Toms River's efforts, including throwing out a Toms River runner at the plate that would have given Toms River a 2-0 lead in the second inning.
Toms River started off strong defensively in the first inning. After the first two Kentucky hitters reached base, Toms River slammed the door with a nice play at shortstop by Franki Velardi, who grabbed a grounder then reached for second just in time for a putout for the second out. Brown ended the Kentucky threat with a strikeout.
Toms River then took a 1-0 run in their half of the first inning when Aviana Gay singled and reached second on an error, then scored when Brown drove the first pitch she faced into a gap in left-center field. Briella Bognar drove a 2-2 pitch into the outfield for a double, but Toms River could not push any more runs across.
In the second inning, Kentucky's first hitter singled, but she was erased from the bases as Leiana Gay threw her out at second on a steal attempt, with Velardi putting the tag on.
Brown then struck out the next Kentucky batter and induced a ground out to Gia Gatto to finish the inning.
In the bottom of the second, Velardi reached when her groundball hit the white bag at first base and dribbled back toward the pitcher. Velardi moved to second on a passed ball. Leiana Gay smacked single to short center and Velardi tried to score but Kentucky's center fielder threw a strike to the catcher, who tagged Velardi at the plate. Kentucky got out of the inning without any runs scoring.
In the third inning, Analeise Curley made a nice play at third and threw out the first Kentucky batter, Gatto threw out the second and Brown finished with another strikeout.
In the bottom of the third, Toms River went down in order.
In the fourth inning, Carly Leonard caught a deep fly to left for the first out, Brown fielded a grounder and threw to first for the second. Kentucky put a baserunner on with a single to right, then a double to the wall in left-center allowed Kentucky to tie the game. Then Curley snared a line drive at third to end the threat.
In the bottom of the fourth, Aviana Gay worked a walk then Brown moved her to second on a fielder's choice. Bognar singled, moving Gay to third. Bognar tried to take second but was ruled out on a replay after her foot came off the bag while the Kentucky shortstop applied the tag. Kentucky's pitcher, Knight, then snared a fly to end the inning.
In the top of the fifth, Curley snagged a line drive to third for the first out. Knight doubled to center, then Velardi stopped a ground ball that seemed destined for center field, keeping it in the infield. Kentucky laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved the runners to second and third. A single to right brought in a run for a 2-1 lead for Kentucky, but Leonard secured a fly ball for the third out to end the threat.
In the bottom of the fifth, Sophia Tolentino worked a two-out walk but Toms River couldn't capitalize.
In the top of the sixth, Mischa Koeppen made a sliding catch for the first out and Gatto grabbed a looping liner at second for the second out. Kentucky put a runner on with a double but couldn't bring her home as Brown forced a pop-up she fielded for the third out.
But Knight set Toms River down in order to seal Kentucky's victory.
Previous coverage:
Toms River Reaches Semifinals At Little League Softball World Series
Toms River Rolls Japan In Little League Softball World Series Rematch
Toms River Little League Moves On In Softball World Series
Toms River Softball Team Kicks Off Little League World Series Title Quest
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