NJ Little League Softball Team World Series-Bound

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Toms River Little League 12U softball team is headed for the Little League World Series.

The team won the Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament in Bristol, Connecticut, with a 5-3 victory over the Pennsylvania state champion to earn its spot in the Little League Softball World Series in Greenville, North Carolina.

The tournament begins Aug. 2, and the Toms River all-stars are scheduled to face the team from the Asia-Pacific Region at 1 p.m. on Aug. 2, with the game set to be broadcast on ESPN 2.

Toms River won the Mid-Atlantic Region in a rematch with Pennsylvania, which had knocked Toms River into the elimination bracket on July 21. Toms River, which had opened with victories against Washington, DC, and Delaware, then defeated New York to reach the championship game.

In the Mid-Atlantic title game, Toms River trailed 1-0 before tying the game in the fifth inning when Aviana Gay singled, took second on a sacrifice fly by Jaelyn Brown and then scored when Carly Leonard's pop fly was misplayed by Pennsylvania, according to the GameChanger scoring report.

In the top of the sixth inning, Toms River put up four runs to take a 5-1 lead. Sophia Tolentino was hit by a pitch and Franki Velardi singled, moving Tolentino to second base. Leiana Gay's bunt loaded the bases for Mischa Koeppen, who hit a ground ball that was misplayed, allowing Tolentino to score. Gia Gatto then singled, scoring Velardi, and Shaelyn Seaman doubled, scoring Leiana Gay and Koeppen, before Pennsylvania could get out of the inning.

Toms River got the first two outs in the bottom of the sixth, throwing out the batter at first after a dropped third strike and then Brown, Toms River's pitcher, induced a fly ball to Koeppen in center field for the second out. Pennsylvania then scored a pair of runs on an error and two hard singles to center field before Brown fielded a grounder and threw to first baseman Juliana Florek-Doslik for the final out, according to GameChanger.

A video recap can be seen on the Little League Softball World Series website here.

The Toms River Little League celebrated the Mid-Atlantic Championship on its Facebook page:

It wasn't immediately clear when the team heads to North Carolina since there is more than a week before the Softball World Series begins. Toms River is in the Orange bracket. With the Little League Baseball World Series the region champions generally go straight to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, after winning their regions.

The team has a GoFundMe campaign raising funds to help offset the costs of the team's travel and meals, which they have been fundraising for since they headed to Connecticut. Those wishing to donate can do so here.

For those planning to watch the team's games in the Little League World Series, here is the roster, with the girls' uniform numbers:

1 Jaelyn Brown
2 Aviana Gay
5 Leiana Gay
6 Briella Bognar
7 Carly Leonard
8 Sophia Tolentino
11 Mischa Koeppen
12 Franki Velardi
14 Juliana Florek-Doslik
18 Analeise Curley
25 Gia Gatto
32 Shaelyn Seaman