By Tim Morris
For two months of the summer, the Freehold Township Little League’s Major League All-Star Team was the toast of the town.
En route to competing in the Eastern Regional in Bristol, Connecticut, the team had shown unflappable resolve and unity, as the Freehold Township community rallied behind it. That support raised the club’s awareness of the significance of what it was achieving.
This collection of 12U players was easy to root for because of their high level of play, as well as their team-first attitude and the chemistry it produced.
“The character and the overall camaraderie is what clearly stands out most on this team,” manager Jeff Gorman said. “Everyone bought into the team concept, and the boys never played tight or nervous.
“They had a great time and were an absolute pleasure to coach and shape as young adults. I don’t think they realized that we were one of 12 teams in the entire eastern region that got to this level.”
Gorman added that Freehold Township was one of more than 1,800 overall other 12U Little League teams in the region.
“It truly was a great accomplishment,” he said. “This was a once in a lifetime experience that we will relish forever. I told the boys that we were connected for life and that the impact that they had on us as coaches was a true gift.”
The Major League all-stars gave the town a lot to be proud about in the way they just conducted themselves through the summer tournaments.
The District 19 tournament started the run and in order to win, Freehold Township had to get by an outstanding Marlboro team that had beaten these all-stars in the lower age group the last two years.
Marlboro and Freehold Township are evenly matched teams, but it was Freehold Township’s turn to win the pennant by edging Marlboro in the finals, 4-3.
Defending state champion Bordentown was all that stood between Freehold Township and the Section 3 crown.
Bordentown showed its championship mettle and handed Freehold Township its first loss of the summer.
Freehold Township came back behind the shutout pitching of John Abrahamson and two home runs from Jonathan Olik to beat Bordentown in the finals, 6-0.
The state tournament was a walk in the park for Freehold Township after the challenges Marlboro and Bordentown provided. Freehold Township defeated Upper Township (Marmora), 14-1, in the finals. In its three games in the tournament, it outscored opponents, 30-4.
The state championship conjured up thoughts of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and the Little League World Series. Freehold Township was just one step away, but it proved to be too big of a step.
Even though it lost its two games in Bristol, Freehold Township was far from over-matched. The team held its own against the state champions from Maine to Maryland.
District and section wins stood out to Gorman.
“My fondest memories of this incredible run was winning the District 19 championship against Marlboro and the Section 3 championship against Bordentown,” he said. “We played incredible baseball for a long period of time, and that carried us to a state title and an opportunity to compete with the best teams in our part of the country.”
The manager also won’t forget what the backing of the community meant to him and the players.
“The boys have incredible parents and families, and the overall support from the town was beyond words,” he said. “The sendoff by the police and fire company the morning that we left for Bristol will be etched in our memories forever.”
Gorman also praised the Freehold Township Little League itself.
“[President] Mike LaCava and the entire Freehold Township Little League were behind us every step of the way and supportive of this entire run, and we are fortunate to have such a well-run league.”
The 2016 Freehold Township Little League Major League state champions are John Abrahamson, Patrick Burns, J.J. Donahue, Zachary Gorman, Brandon Levy, Michael Mancuzi, Drew Montgomery, Connor Morie, Jonathan Olik, Colin Reilly, Mario Rivera, Brad Salamone, Jayce Schapiro and Anthony Sirico.
