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.