Freehold Township’s run ends in state finals
By tim morris
Staff Writer

JEFF HUNTLEY Freehold Township’s Jimmy Ascalese delivers a pitch in a game against Toms River East. The Township squad went on to beat Toms River to earn a shot at the state title.

It was in defeat that the Freehold Township Little League Junior League all-star team showed it had the character of a champion.

Three days after beating Toms River East American for the Section III Junior League championship, the all-stars were playing the defending state champions from the South Vineland Little League in the opening round of the state championships at Winslow Township on July 28.

A 14-1 thumping at the hands of the champions was not what they had envisioned. It was a jolt to their pride and confidence. A lesser team would have not recovered. But instead of folding the tent, Freehold Township responded by roaring back with a pair of comeback wins that earned them another shot at South Vineland, this time for the state championship on July 31.

Although South Vineland prevailed again, 7-0, on July 31, Freehold Township’s players could still hold their heads high. They had lost to a superior team, but most importantly to them, they had regained their well-earned respect.

"To be one of the top two teams in the state is not bad at all," said manager Gary Cocco. "I’m so proud of the kids. They have so much to be proud of. They accomplished so much. It was nice to make Freehold Township known."

It was a tremendous ride for the Freehold Township nine that started back in early July at the District 19 championships.

"We had some difficult games at the district level," Cocco pointed out. "Winning the District was our goal and after we won it, everything else was gravy.

"Then, we won our first game in the section and we began to think, maybe we can do something here," he added. "Every game became special. Next thing we know, we’re playing Toms River East for the championship. Being a part of that was an honor."

Toms River East American had several players, including Todd Frazier and Scott Fisher, from the team that won the Little League World Series. Toms River led Freehold Township 4-2 going into the bottom of the seventh of that game played at Howell Central Little League when the resilient Township all-stars struck for three runs to shock East and claim the first-ever sectional crown for Freehold Township.

Township went from the sublime to the ridiculous in its next outing, falling to South Vineland in the first round of the tournament. The loss, however, was a turning point for players, providing them with a challenge of a new kind — restoring their pride.

"We made a lot of miscues in that first game loss to South Vineland," Cocco explained. "The kids felt cheated. They knew they were better than that. They knew they could bounce back."

And did they ever. Freehold Township had not run out of late-inning come-backs in beating Toms River East. Both of their bounce-back wins came in the sixth inning with the score tied.

Against Union, the sixth inning rally was highlighted by a pair of home runs. Matt Phillips started things off with a double and James Tuosto followed with an RBI single to put Township ahead 4-3. With two outs, Ryan Boysen smacked a home run to increase the lead to 6-3. The rally was not over yet as Dan Cocco was next, and he delivered another round-tripper to make it 7-3.

Staked to the four-run lead, Boysen gave up a run in the seventh for the 7-4 final. Boysen went the distance, striking out five.

The next test was Parsippany East in the double-elimination tournament with the prize for the winner a place in the championship game against South Vineland. Again, the score was 3-3 in the sixth.

This time it was Dan Cocco who furnished the big hit of the inning, a bases-loaded triple, bringing in three runs. Jim Ascolese’s RBI single scored Cocco with the fourth run of the inning and the final 7-3 margin.

Starter Brad Brach pitched a complete game, striking out six.

Freehold Township tried a different pitching strategy in the rematch with South Vineland.

"In the first game we found out that they were excellent fastball hitters," said Gary Cocco. "They were able to turn very quickly on the inside pitch and pull the ball.

"The next time around we wanted to throw them sliders and curve balls, off-speed pitches on the outside corner," he added. "They didn’t have any extra base hits, the second time, while they had three home runs in the first game."

South Vineland’s power may have been held in check by pitchers Ascolese (who won three and one-third innings) and Dan Cocco (three and two-thirds innings); however, the defending champions proved to be anything but one dimensional. They strung hits together and delivered base hits with runners in scoring position to score seven times.

Freehold Township did have its opportunities the second time around, but there would be no late-inning heroics this time.

"We just couldn’t get it going," noted Gary Cocco. "We had some great opportunities, but when we hit the ball hard, we hit it right to them."

Cocco praised the champions who went on to the Eastern Junior Regional this week which is being hosted by the Marlboro Little League.

"We’re not disappointed," he said. "South Vineland has a great program. They have eight players back from the team that won the state championship last year. You couldn’t find a weakness on the team.

The members of the 2000 District 19 and Section III champions and state runners-up were: Billy Golden, Jon Harrison, John Paul DeStefano, Chris Zytko, Phillips, Boysen, Dan Cocco, James Tumminia, Brach, Chris Collins, Ascolese, Brian Breshahan and Tuosta.

Gary Cocco was the coach with Dennis Ascolese and Frank Harrison.