Toms River East Wins Trip To Little League World Series

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Toms River East Little League team is headed to the Little League World Series for the first time since 1999, and second time since its 1998 World Championship.

Toms River East rallied from a three-run deficit, scoring six runs in its final at-bat Friday night to beat the Delaware state champions 6-3 in the Mid-Atlantic elimination game and advance to Saturday's regional championship game. The Mid-Atlantic Region championship game is set for 6 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Little League World Series will have no international teams in 2021. Instead, the top two teams from each regional advance. Pennsylvania defeated Toms River East on Thursday to claim the first Mid-Atlantic Regional spot in Williamsport, Pennsylvania; Toms River East now has earned the second.

Toms River trailed 3-0 going into the top of the sixth inning, but true to Toms River's history, the team never gave up. Cole Garrison led off with a walk, then advanced to third base when Christopher Tennaro doubled to left field. Adrian Bilotti hit a sacrifice fly to center field that allowed Garrison to score, making it 3-1. Max Mika then drilled a ground-ball single to center field to drive in Tennaro and make it 3-2.

That's when the tide turned for Toms River.

Cailen Cimorelli popped a fly ball into center field that dropped in between fielders, then Steven Malato grounded into a fielder's choice for the second out. Delaware decided to give an intentional walk to Joey DiMeo, who has had a hot bat for Toms River throughout its tournament run.

That brought Carson Frazier to the plate. And true to his family name, Frazier delivered.

Frazier smashed a 2-2 pitch to the base of the center-field fence, clearing the bases to put Toms River East ahead 5-3. Jason Verderrosa then drove a single to right field, allowing Frazier to score and give Toms River East the 6-3 lead.

Toms River East then shut Delaware down, with Garrison striking out the final two batters to clinch the victory.

Toms River East now gets a chance to redeem its only loss of the summer when it faces Pennsylvania at 6 p.m. Saturday in the Mid-Atlantic Regional championship game. Pennsylvania beat Toms River East 6-1 on Thursday night, and will be eager to avenge the defeat.

The Little League World Series begins Aug. 19 in Williamsport, and Toms River East will be looking to replicate the success of the 1998 team, which came away with the World Series title.

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