Repeating as the Little League state champion in the 13U baseball division remains a major goal for Freehold Township.
But taking it a step further is the driving force behind Freehold Township’s play this summer.
“We were the state champions last year,” Freehold Township’s manager, Jeff Gorman, said. “We lost to Maine in the Atlantic Regional tournament in the semifinals. We want to go to California this year. That’s the goal. We have a bunch of kids who are returning, so we believe we can get there.”
California is the site this summer when the Intermediate 50/70 Baseball League World Series is staged in Livermore from July 30 through Aug. 6.
Freehold Township claimed the Section 3 championship July 5 when it knocked out Princeton, 9-1.
Freehold Township needs to win three games this week in order to punch a ticket to California.
Freehold Township opened play in the state tournament July 12 against Bayonne. That game is scheduled for 8 p.m.
The state tournament is being played at the Middletown Little League complex that is located at 47 W. Market St., Red Bank.
A victory July 12 will send Freehold Township into the winners bracket July 13. The tournament is scheduled to end by July 15.