Freehold Township American advances to District 19 final
All-Stars rally
to beat Marlboro South
By tim morris
Staff Writer

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT Freehold Township’s Shaun Purves throws to first as a runner advances to second during a Township American’s 7-1 win over Marlboro on Thursday in Freehold Township.

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — Baseball is a game of inches.

Anthony Cirillo’s pop fly landed inches inside the left field foul line for a double, opening up the floodgates for what became a seven-run fifth-inning rally by the Freehold Township Little League American Major League All-Star Team against Marlboro South Thursday night. That led to a 7-1 Freehold Township victory and a place in the District 19 finals for the Township nine.

Freehold Township’s fifth-inning outburst broke open what had been an outstanding pitcher’s duel between a pair of southpaws, Township’s Mike Miranda and Marlboro’s Phil Zanardi, at Michael J. Tighe Park.

Zanardi was holding onto a 1-0 lead entering the last of the fifth inning thanks to a home run in the top of the fourth by Jason Taub, who had deposited a Miranda pitch over the right center field wall. But everything changed after Cirillo lofted his one-out double. It followed a walk by Mike Tumminia and put runners on second and third, with one out. It was the first time Freehold Township had put runners in scoring positions and they would take full advantage of it.

Freehold Township’s Steve Talbot can’t believe he’s called out after a close play at second base.

Chris Bresnahan’s infield single plated Tumminia with the tying run. John Morrill followed with an RBI single that scored Cirillo with the go-ahead and what proved to be the winning run.

A pair of errors led to a 4-1 Freehold Township lead and Jerry Plescia would put the game away with his two-RBI double. He would come around and score on a throwing error to make it 7-1.

Miranda polished off his three-hitter by putting Marlboro South down in order in the top of the sixth. The lefty struck out eight.

With the victory, Freehold Township won the winner’s bracket of the district tournament and would have two days off to wait to see who it played July 13 in the district final at the Marlboro Little League Complex.

Marlboro’s Phil Zanardi chooses his pitch during his team’s loss to Freehold Township.

Freehold Township beat Lincroft, 10-8, and Tinton Falls, 10-0, to get to the winner’s bracket final.

Marlboro South had been impressive itself, beating Monmouth Beach, 10-2, and Sandy Hook, 15-0, on its way to meeting Freehold Township American.

The loss to Freehold Township did not eliminate Marlboro South. The team went to the loser’s bracket where, with a victory, it could meet Freehold Township at home for the District 19 pennant. Marlboro South played Lincroft July 11 in Eatontown to determine Freehold Township American’s opponent in the District 19 final.

Because it is a double-elimination tournament, a Township loss on July 13 would create a final, winner-take-all game on July 14. The district champion will go on to play in the Section III tournament for a chance to move on to the Little League state championship tournament.

District 19 went to pool play this year to produce a final eight. Teams were put into four-team pools, with the top two in each advancing to the elite eight. Freehold Township won pool No. 1 with a 3-0 mark, while Marlboro South captured pool No. 4 with an identical 3-0 mark.

The other teams to qualify for the tournament were Lincroft, Tinton Falls, Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Sandy Hook and Freehold National.