Toms River Softball Little Leaguers' Run Ends In Mid-Atlantic Region

BRISTOL, CT ? The Toms River Little League Softball All-Stars' hopes of another title have come to an end.

The 12-and-under softball team had its season end with a 16-3 loss to Delaware in the elimination final of the Mid-Atlantic Region on Wednesday night in Bristol, Connecticut.

The team, which won the District 18, Section 3 and New Jersey state championships in just the second season of the Toms River Little League softball program, fell behind early and could never catch up to Delaware, which avenged a 6-2 loss earlier in the tournament.

Maya Ballaccomo was 2 for 3 with a run batted in and Kelly Forrester was 1 for 1 with a run batted in for Toms River on Wednesday. Emma Eisman had the other RBI on a walk.

Toms River beat Delaware 6-2 in its region opener on Saturday. In that game, the girls rallied from a 2-1 deficit with five runs in the top of the sixth inning for the victory. Isabella Cino and Brielle Troy walked, then advanced on a ground-ball fielder's choice by Gianna Monetti. After Forrester was intentionally walked to load the bases, Cino and Troy scored on a single by Ballaccomo to give Toms River a 3-2 lead. Eisman singled to drive in Forrester and Ballaccomo, then scored when Kayla Rasmussen hit a double to center, after advancing to second on a passed ball.

Toms River scored its first run in Saturday's game when Cino, who had walked and stolen second, scored on a sacrifice by Troy.

On Tuesday, Toms River fell to Maryland 6-1. Toms River got on the board in the top of the fifth inning when Ballaccomo doubled to center field then scored on a two-out line drive to center by Carolina Carr, cutting Maryland's lead to 2-1. But Toms River couldn't push any more runs across, and timely hitting in the bottom of the fifth allowed Maryland to pad its lead for a 6-1 victory.

Delaware, meanwhile, won two games in the elimination bracket before facing Toms River again, beating Washington, DC, 24-0 on Monday and beating New York 3-2 on Tuesday.

Delaware faces Maryland on Thursday evening in the championship game.