Toms River East Hopes To Keep Little League World Series Dream Alive Saturday

WILLIAMSPORT, PA — The Toms River East Little League team will be trying to keep its tournament hopes alive when the team takes on Connecticut on Saturday.

Toms River East, which is back in the Little League World Series for the first time since 1999, is hoping to repeat its 1998 success, which ended in a World Series championship.

To get there, however, the team has to shake off Thursday's 5-2 loss to Nebraska, the Midwest champion from Hastings Little League.

The loss moved Toms River East into the elimination bracket, and it faces the Connecticut state champion from Manchester Little League, which lost to Hawaii 9-1 on Thursday.

Saturday's game is set for 3 p.m. and is scheduled to be televised on ABC, according to Little League.

"I told the team just keep fighting, we know how to play baseball. We just didn't hit today," manager Paul Mika said in a postgame news conference recorded by Little League's media staff.

Toms River East gave up two runs in the bottom of the first inning, and Nebraska, the Midwest champion from Hastings Little League, added a run in the bottom of the second and two in the fourth to take a 5-0 lead.

Toms River East opened the game with Steven Malato and Joey DiMeo reaching base, but was not able to bring either runner home. Nebraska pitcher Hunter Nepple kept Toms River East handcuffed at the plate, allowing hits by Dominic Roma and DiMeo in the second and third innings.

In the fifth inning Toms River East finally got on the board when Malato drilled a two-out and DiMeo drove him in with a drive to center field. But Nebraska pitcher Kowen Rader struck out Carson Frazier to end the threat.

In the sixth inning, Toms River East tried again to rally. Jason Verderrosa walked and Jalen McLean reached on an error. Rader induced a pair of pop-flies before Max Mika came to the plate. Cole Garrison, who was a special pinch runner for Verderrosa, scored on a wild pitch and Mika singled, but Rader induced a ground ball for the final out.

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