All-Stars fall in District finals

Photo courtesy Lukas Guerrier Hammonton catcher Caiden Watson (27) tags out Stafford’s Michael Masucci late in the District 16 11U championship game at Hammonton Lake Park. Watson and his All-Star teammates lost the game in extra innings, 5-4.

HAMMONTON—A pair of late rallies lifted Stafford to a 5-4, extra-inning victory against host Hammonton in the District 16 11U tournament finals on June 29 at Hammonton Lake Park.

Hammonton led 4-2 with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Stafford rallied to score twice and force extra innings, where its All-Stars were able to push a run across the plate for the win.

Hammonton had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Caiden Watson stole home. Tommy Hroncich’s ground ball drove in Luciano Bagliani and Danny Lombardo drove in Brayden Templeton for a 3-0 lead.

Stafford scored twice in the bottom of the second to trim Hammonton’s lead to a run, but in the top of the fourth, the local All-Stars added a run Lucas Ewer’s RBI single.

Leading 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth, an error and a double put two runners on for Stafford before a two-out miscue allowed two more runs to score, tying the game 4-4.

In the seventh, Hammonton stranded two runners and Stafford took advantage in its half of the inning, as a passed ball moved a runner to third base that later scored on a blooper to right field, clinching the win.

Earlier in the week, Hammonton had defeated Dennis/Lower Twp. 5-1 to reach the championship game.

Hroncich had two hits in the win, and Templeton and Tyler Heggan each drove in runs.