2019 11u All-Star team makes history with first Madison Little League state title in 40 years; goes on to finish 3rd in Regional Tournament of Champions
In 2018 as 10 year-olds, this team battled to a marathon 12-inning District 1 victory over Randolph, and then went all the way to the Sectional title game before falling to Pompton Lakes/Riverdale.
In 2019 as 11s, they came from behind to beat Randolph again for the District 1 title and advance to the Section 1 tourney for the second straight year.
On July 13, completing their sectional tourney sweep with a 3-0 record, the Madison 11u All-Stars defeated Sparta for the Section 1 Championship. This is the first sectional title for Madison since 2012 and first ever on the small diamond.
On July 25, the 11u All-Stars capped their undefeated tournament run (8-0) with an 11-4 victory over Brick Township, capturing the first state Little League title for Madison in 40 years.
On July 30, the team traveled to Beverly, Mass. to begin play in the Eastern Regional Tournament of Champions. This tournament brings together the state champion teams from New England and Mid-Atlantic to compete for the regional trophy - the highest achievement in 11u Little League.
After a long drive north, the team didn't have their best stuff in the Tuesday night game versus PA and fell 13-1. After rain washed out Wednesday's action, the boys spent their scheduled day off on Thursday taking in the sights of Boston. They visited the famed New England Aquarium, took a duck boat tour, and capped the night off with a Red Sox game at historic Fenway Park.
The downtime R-n-R apparently did the trick, as NJ went on to sweep their Friday doubleheader, first defeating NH 8-1, then downing MA 10-2. On Saturday, they dispatched VT in a blowout 16-0 victory. The team from CT went 4-0 and the NJ team's 3-1 record put them in a three-way tie for 2nd place with PA and MA. Tiebreaker rules bumped NJ to 3rd place with 16 runs allowed versus PA's 13 allowed. (On Sunday, CT went on to defeat PA in the title game by a score of 7-3.)
With their first-ever achievements of sectional and state titles on the small diamond, and snapping a 40-year MLL state title drought, the 2019 11u All-Star team has forever secured its place in Madison Little League's history books. The Board of MLL thanks the players, coaches and parents for representing Madison NJ with exceptional honor, sportsmanship and grace throughout their epic run!
Follow Madison's path to the title on the District, Sectional and State tourney brackets here.
Full schedule and results of the Regional TOC are available on the Beverly, Mass. LL website here.
VIDEO: the final out of the State title game
VIDEO: the final out of the Sectional title game