By Matthew Rocco
With a trip to the Little League Junior League Eastern Regional Tournament on the line, Lincroft entered the District 19 finals with the momentum of a thrilling comeback win.
The Lincroft All-Star baseball team found itself in an early 7-0 hole against Tinton Falls in the third game of district play July 23. Lincroft had won its first two games over Middletown and Freehold Township with relative ease, but suddenly the team looked destined for a win-or-go-home battle.
“We were already thinking about who we were going to pitch on Monday,” manager Stephen Lotito said. “Next thing you know, it’s loaded bases and we’re down just two runs.”
Lincroft was still facing a big deficit before its final turn at-bat. Down 10-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Joseph Stanzione led off with a single. From there, the hits kept coming. Two walks book-ended a hit by Bobby Pirie, and Michael Cowell followed with a double that scored two runs. Two more walks and a hit batter tightened the score at 10-8. Christopher Lotito then stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. He struck a double to clear the bases, giving Lincroft an 11-10 win and putting the team one win away from the District 19 title.
“I never thought we’d be playing in the championship game, down six runs in the last inning,” manager Lotito said. “We had taken the kids aside and told them, ‘This isn’t it.’ We still had a tournament to play, win or lose. They just went out and played. The kids really responded well. I have to give them a lot of credit for that.”
The come-from-behind victory was all the more impressive considering the conditions. Game day was a scorcher, with temperatures closing in on 100 degrees.
Lotito described the Lincroft All-Stars, comprised of 13- and 14-year-olds, as a bunch of scrappy kids that want to play baseball.
“The camaraderie and total team effort is something I’ve never seen,” he said.
Lincroft’s roster includes Brendan Antonelli, Ronnie Antonelli, Michael Cowell, Tristan Delaney, William Doyle, John Fendrich, Anthony Esposito, Christopher Lotito, Frankie Massa, Bobby Pirie, Joseph Stanzione and Jared Terefenko.
Charlie Terefenko and Dean Esposito are the team’s coaches.
Heavy rain pushed back a deciding game between Freehold Township and Tinton Falls, with the winner earning the right to play Lincroft for the district title. The District 19 finals were rescheduled to start July 27 at 7 p.m. A victory for Lincroft’s opponent would force a winner-take-all championship game July 28 at 7 p.m.
The District 19 champion will book a ticket straight to the Eastern Regional, where teams representing New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and other neighboring states will compete. Freehold Township Little League will host the tournament beginning Aug. 5.