2012 Senior League Eastern Regional Kicks off Friday Night

During the week of the Senior League Eastern Regional, West Deptford Patch will feature dispatches from Mike Hirschman, the communications director for the tournament. Here's Hirschman's preview of the annual affair:

Ten teams—three first-timers and seven veteran programs—will all descend on West Deptford’s beginning Friday in search of a regional title and Senior Little League World Series bid when play gets underway in the 2012 Senior Little League Baseball Eastern Regional.
 
This year will mark the 22nd consecutive year that West Deptford has hosted the regional. The tournament has been played at West Deptford Little League since 1991, first playing on Bob Oldt Field and later moving over to Union Field when construction was completed just prior to the 1994 regional. Oldt Field still remains in place as a practice facility and alternate game field during regional play.
 
Six of this year’s 10 teams have appeared in West Deptford at least once in the last five years. Talbot, MD returns to defend its 2011 regional title, while South Vineland, the winningest program in 21 years of regional play at West Deptford, returns after a one-year absence.
 
New Jersey state champions had won 34 consecutive games prior to last year’s regional. South Vineland, which had a major part in that winning streak, has won 23 of its last 24 games at Union Field in regional play and is 30-7 all-time, winning regional titles in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2009 and 2010.
 
Stony Point, NY, a 2011 regional participant, faces Johnston, RI in the first game of the regional at 5 p.m. Friday. Stony Point finished fourth a year ago after playing in the opening game of the regional and losing to Quincy, MA, 6-0. The New York champs bounced back and won three straight before dropping a 1-0 decision to Wyoming, PA. Johnston last appeared at the regional in 2010 when it finished fourth.
 
Friday’s second game has Scarborough, ME facing Auburn, MA. Scarborough will be making its first appearance in West Deptford, while Auburn returns for the first time since 2007 when it finished third. It is their fourth overall appearance in West Deptford, having also appeared in 2006 and 1995.
 
Saturday’s action gets underway at 11:30 a.m. when Upper Moreland, PA, a first time visitor to West Deptford, takes on defending regional champ Talbot, MD. At 2 p.m., Naamans LL of Wilmington, DE takes on the Stony Point, NY-Johnston, RI winner. Naamans was in the regional in 2008, 2009 and 2010, finished second once and third twice.
 
First-time regional participant Orange, CT, will face local district champ West Deptford at 5 p.m. on Saturday. West Deptford makes its 12th regional appearance, having recorded an 18-22 mark in those 11 previous appearances, including a runner-up finish in 2004. South Vineland, NJ takes on the Scarborough, ME-Auburn, MA winner at approximately 7:30 p.m. to close out the Saturday slate of games.
 
Sunday and Monday’s slate features four games each day at 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday is slated for three games in two sessions. The winner’s bracket final is slated for 10 a.m., followed by an elimination bracket game at 12:30 p.m. The elimination bracket final follows a dinner break and is slated for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday’s championship round begins at 5 p.m.
 
The regional champ will advance to the Senior League World Series in Bangor, ME. Play in Bangor begins on Sunday, Aug. 12, with the Eastern Regional winner beginning play that night in an 8 p.m. clash against the Central Regional winner.

Live scoring will be available online during all tournament games.

Friday, August 3
G2 - Stony Point, NY vs. Johnston, RI, 5 p.m.
G1 - Scarborough, ME vs. Auburn, MA, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, August 4
G4 - Upper Moreland, PA vs. Talbot (Home Run Baker/Easton LL), MD, 11:30 a.m.
G6 - Naamans LL (Wilmington), DE vs. G2 winner, 2 p.m.
G3 - West Deptford, NJ-15 vs. Orange, CT, 5 p.m.
G5 - South Vineland, NJ vs. G1 winner, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, August 5
G8 - Loser G1 vs. Loser G4, 11:30 a.m.
G7 - Loser G2 vs. Loser G3, 2 p.m.
G10 - Winner G4 vs. Winner G6, 5 p.m.
G9 - Winner G3 vs. Winner G5, 7:30 p.m.

Monday, August 6
G12 - Winner G8 vs. Loser G6, 11:30 a.m.
G11 - Winner G7 vs. Loser G5, 2 p.m.
G13 - Winner G12 vs. Loser G9, 5 p.m.
G14 - Winner G11 vs. Loser G10, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, August 7
G15 - Winner G9 vs. Winner G10, 10 a.m.
G16 - Winner G13 vs. Winner G14, 12:30 p.m.
G17 - Winner G16 vs. Loser G15, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, August 8
G18 - G15 winner vs. G17 winner, 5 p.m.
G19 - G18 winner vs. G18 loser, 30 min. after G18 (if necessary)