BERKELEY – The Township Council celebrated the hard work of three Little League teams.
“This level of success is such a rare achievement given the many obstacles these teams must face along the way,” said Jon Bentevigna, president of the Berkeley Little League. “It demonstrates that these young players embody Little League’s core values of character, courage, and loyalty.”
He went on to credit the parents and coaches for their time and dedication in helping the younger generation to prosper.
The 8-year-old All-Stars, led by manager Tom Snyder, won the tournament hosted by Toms River, he said. They had a 4-1 record, in which they outscored their opponents 31-13.
The 9-year-old All-Stars, led by manager Chris Leiswski, won all five games of their tournament hosted by Barnegat. They outscored their opponents 53-14, even besting their rival Holbrook Little League 3-2.
The 13 and 14-year-old players were the Junior Division team, the Michigan Wolverines. With manager Todd Sajweicz, they won the District 18 season championship 15-0.
The All-Star team then advanced to the sectionals. They lost to Howell Central, but eventually won the Sectional Championship 4-1.
Their run came to an end in the state championships, falling twice to Monroe Township and taking second place in the state.
“Their 10-3 run through the All-Stars was a fantastic, drama filled journey with come-from-behind victories and late inning heroics. They truly captured the hearts of their fans, who filled our complex with every exciting game,” Bentivigna said.
