'One Team, One Town': Freehold Township Little League Off To Intermediate World Series

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Freehold Township Little League team is making Monmouth County proud as they head off to the Little League World Series this weekend in California.

Victory for the Freehold Township Intermediate (50/70) Little League All-Star Team came after an undefeated 4-0 run at the East Regional Tournament in Dover, DE, which then qualified them for the 2025 Intermediate Little League World Series.

In an interview with Patch, Team Manager Mike Umansky said the team’s journey to the World Series has had both highs and lows throughout the season, though none of it would be possible without the support of the players’ families, team staff, coaches Matt Szustowicz and Paul Scarnati, and the local community.

“The community support has been incredible,” Umansky told Patch.

“It’s taken a big burden off of us as a coaching staff, where we can focus on the players on the field, getting them trained and mentally prepared, and we don’t have to worry about outside distractions because the parents just focus on baseball," Umansky continued. "They shut everything else down; there’s no conflicts. It just makes our job that much easier.”

Before the Little League team qualified for the Intermediate World Series, Umansky said there have been both big victories and challenges that have led up to this historic moment.

After losing their first tournament game against a team from Brick in sectionals, Umansky said their team had to come back and beat Brick twice to take the championship – something that he said later became “a defining moment” for the team.

Following that series, Freehold Township went on to become the New Jersey Section 3 Champions, which then advanced them to the New Jersey State Tournament, where they faced a team from Teaneck South.

After some close games against the Teaneck team, Umansky said Freehold managed a final 4-2 win that brought them to the Regional Tournament, where they then mercied teams from Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts and Maryland, ultimately outscoring their opponents 56-6 and qualifying for the 2025 Intermediate World Series.

“We didn’t really know what to expect,” Umansky said of the team’s mindset going into the Regional Tournament. “This is the first time that this team, at this age, has ever gotten through Districts, and now we’re up on a huge stage.”

As the team now gets ready to take the stage at the World Series this weekend, Umansky said he’s focused on making sure that the players are ready to go and focused on ensuring that the team enjoys this moment.

“I don’t know that they fully understand the gravity of where they are right now,” Umansky said. “This is the biggest stage they would have played on up until now.”

Though the team hasn’t been in the national spotlight until now, Umansky sees their prior experience as an asset.

Because the players are from the same town and have grown up playing baseball together, he said their strong bonds allow them to work well together in pursuit of a greater goal.

“They go to school together, they play ball together, and so this isn’t just a regular baseball team,” Umansky said. “This is really what makes Little League different than every other youth baseball organization out there. This is one team, one town.”

Going into the Intermediate World Series, Umansky said he’s advising players to do what they do best, trust their instincts and not try to play outside their abilities.

“We know they’re good baseball players, we know they’re good kids, more importantly,” Umansky said. “And we know they have a good head on their shoulders. As long as they stay focused and keep doing what they’ve been doing and playing how they’ve been playing the last 13 years of their lives, they’ll be fine.”

As the team gets ready to leave for California, the Freehold Township community has also made sure to send them off in style.

On Wednesday, the town hosted a special send-off parade for the team, with families, neighbors, and even state and local representatives such as Senator Vin Gopal and Councilman Anthony Ammiano in attendance.

“Congratulations to the Freehold Township Little League Intermediate Team on clinching a spot in the Little League World Series!” Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon said in an online post. “Best of luck in Livermore and in making Monmouth County proud!”

Throughout the season, the team has also received plenty of support from friends, families and neighbors in the Freehold Township and broader Monmouth County community.

To help with the cost of cross-country flights, hotel stays, meals, and transportation, the team launched a GoFundMe with a goal of raising $20,000. As of Friday afternoon, $14,025 has been raised.

“We’re so thankful to the community, the parents, players, Freehold Township Little League and Freehold Township itself,” Umansky said. “Without the support of the community, the players and the team, this just can’t have happened this way. It truly is a team effort that goes beyond the players and coaching staff themselves.”

On Sunday, the team will compete in their first game of the Intermediate World Series as East Region representatives and play against the Central Region representatives from Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin.

The game is set to begin at 3 p.m. EST and will be available through the ESPN app or ESPN website.

To learn more about Freehold Township Little League, you can visit their website or social media accounts (Facebook and Instagram).