BRISTOL, Conn. — Forget the Jersey Shore.
Parsippany is the story of the Garden State this summer. And a group of 11- and 12-year-olds are the reasons why.
Par-Troy East reached the Little League World Series with a thrilling 1-0 victory over Newark National Little League, Delaware’s representative, at Breen Field yesterday in the Mid-Atlantic Regional championship.
The winning pitcher in Friday’s semifinal victory, shortstop Bener Uygun provided the game’s only run with a solo shot, turning on a hanging curveball and sending it over the left-field fence. It was more than enough support for starter Emil Matti, who went the distance, striking out four, walking none and allowing just two hits.
The right-hander with the blazing fastball got ahead of virtually every hitter he faced and induced 11 groundball outs. Uygun made five of the putouts, including a pair of highlight-reel plays in the hole in the second.
Newark’s Danny Miller reached on an error by first baseman Vinny Prezioso in the second, Matt Theodorakis doubled over left fielder Sarang Amin’s head in the third and Joe Silan doubled halfway up the wall in the sixth with two outs. Matti, however, responded by striking out Dominic Petrucci on three pitches.
Matti retired 10 of the final 11 hitters he faced and needed just 71 pitches, 58 of them strikes, to twirl the gem.
The Parsippany, N.J.-based Little League will meet McAllister Park National of San Antonio Texas, the Southwest Regional winner, in Williamsport, Pa., Friday at 3 p.m. They are the second New Jersey team to reach the Little League World Series, joining Toms River in 2010.
The second seed, Par-Troy went 3-1 in pool play, beating West Salisbury Little League of Maryland, 9-1, to reach the single-elimination round and then advanced to the championship with a commanding 9-4 victory over Collier Township Little League of Pennsylvania.
This Par-Troy East club has been together for five years and is the first team in New Jersey history to claim consecutive state crowns, winning as 11-year olds last summer and becoming the first team from the Parsippany league to win a state title in the 12-year-old division.
Par-Troy cruised to the New Jersey state tournament, blowing away the competition in district and sectional play by a combined 97-5. After dropping the opener of the state tournament, 11-2 to Livingston American Little League, Par Troy reeled off four straight wins to reach the Mid-Atlantic Regional, knocking off Nottingham Little League twice to advance out of the loser’s bracket.