Toms River East's Little League World Series Dream Run Comes To An End

WILLIAMSPORT, PA — The Toms River East Little League team's dream run has come to an end.

But just as they have all summer, the boys battled to the very last out.

Toms River East fell to Texas, 2-1, in an elimination game on Tuesday, in a game that tested Toms River East's nerves at every turn, and prompted Texas to use four pitchers to get the win.

Steven Malato scored Toms River's only run in the bottom of the fifth inning on an aggressive baserunning play.

Malato had singled, then took second base on a passed ball. With Jason Verderrosa batting, a wild pitch got away from Texas catcher Ella Bruning. As Bruning was retrieving the ball from the backstop, Malato took third and started to head for home, but stopped partway down the third-base line. For a moment, it looked like he was going to get caught in a rundown, but Malato bore down and sprinted for home, where Texas pitcher Carter Nelson was waiting for the throw. Malato never slowed down and as he slid, the ball hit Nelson and dropped to the ground, allowing Malato to score.

That was the only run Toms River East could push across, however.

Toms River was tested in the first and second innings. Texas scored a run in each, but both times Toms River East limited what could have been big innings.

In the first inning, the first three Texas batters reached base, and a ground ball out allowed leadoff hitter Cason Parrish to score. Toms River East pitcher Cole Garrison loaded the bases with a walk, then struck out the next batter and induced a grounder to Malato at third base to end the inning.

In the second inning, Texas got a two-out single and scored on a triple, then added a walk, but Garrison again got out of the inning.

Joey DiMeo came on to pitch in the third inning and recorded eight strikeouts over the remaining four innings to keep Toms River East's hopes alive, but Texas countered with three different pitchers in the last two innings to handcuff East.

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