FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – The arduous task of reaching the Section 3 championship game out of the loser’s bracket hit a major roadblock for the Freehold Township 12-year-old Little League All-Stars on Tuesday night.
After falling behind by four runs, then taking a one-run lead, then trailing by one run again, then tying the game, Freehold Township gave up the decisive run in the top of the sixth inning.
However, Freehold Township couldn’t respond in the bottom half of the sixth inning and as a result endured a heartbreaking, 7-6, loss to Milltown in the loser’s bracket final of the Section 3 Tournament.
More: The current Section 3 bracketView each game of this year’s Section 3 Tournament
“I told them there is only one extra game to get there (to the Section 3 championship game. That’s all it was. It was today (Tuesday). This was the extra game. If we had won today (Tuesday), we would be there tomorrow (Wednesday).” – Freehold Township manager Walter Perski
But Freehold Township, which last won the Section 3 tournament in 2016, will not get that chance this year. That opportunity belongs to Milltown now.
What it means
Freehold Township’s impressive run is now over. After winning the District 19 title on July 8, Freehold Township went 2-2 before bowing out of this year’s Section 3 Tournament. Conversely, Milltown moves on to the Section 3 Tournament’s championship game with a 2-1 record. Milltown will face Toms River East at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the championship game of the Section 3 tournament.
More: A recap of District 19 tournamentReview each game of this year’s district 19 tournament
The big innings for each squad
Milltown put four runs on the board in the top of the second inning as leadoff hitter Joseph Modeste hand an RBI-single to right field and No. 2 hitter Tyrus Lazar launched a three-run home run to deep left field.
Freehold Township countered with a five-run, fourth inning with some big hits of its own. Bradley Cecilione placed a line drive in the gap in right field, which cleared the bases. Marcus Camacho followed with an RBI-double and Warren Perski followed that with an RBI-single.
They said it
“I had 13 kids and they all could have started. Every one of them could have started. And they all started at one point. So, it made it a difficult choice every night, who do I put in the lineup? I’m sure there were people that weren’t happy they were sitting down. But that’s what you want. You don’t want them to be happy being on the bench. And they had that drive but nobody complained about it, which is rare. I was very proud of that.” – Freehold Township manager Walter Perski
More: Monday’s recap of Section 3 gamesFind out how Freehold Township advanced to the loser’s bracket final
“They were all behind each other. There was no pointing fingers. There was nobody saying I should be getting more playing time. Always cheering each other on.” – Freehold Township manager Walter Perski
“They took this loss hard that’s because they are competitors. Every kid on this team is a competitor. And I told them that, I would take any 13 of them any day. This is the team I would come battle with.” – Freehold Township manager Walter Perski
Line score
Milltown 0-4-0-0-2-1 = 7-11-1
Freehold Township 0-0-0-5-1-0 = 6-11-1
Sherlon Christie is a sports reporter at the Asbury Park Press and has covered sports at the Jersey Shore since 2004. Don’t miss any of his coverage by subscribing at You can contact him at