It was one heck of a summer for Hamilton Township Little League teams.
As usual.
Nottingham was the big winner, as three teams made it to the New Jersey LL State Tournament, marking the first time in District 12 history that has ever happened. And while the Sunnybrae 10-year-olds lost the first games of their existence, they still won a district title and battled hard in the Section 3 tournament.
Here’s a look at how it all shook out.
Nottingham 12s
A glorious chapter came to an end in heartbreaking fashion as this group’s final game together ended in a 1-0 walk-off loss to Cresskill in a state elimination game. The Sayen Gang lost by the mercy rule one night earlier when one of their top players, Nolan Muits, was hit in the face and suffered a fractured jaw.
In the end, the nucleus of this crew claimed four District 12 titles, two Section 3 championships and a state crown as 10-year-olds.
“That’s what makes this so difficult to say goodbye,” said manager Mike Bongrazio, who was assisted by Brad Bishop and Stu Whitman. “I’ve had them since seven. Even at 8s we were the first district champions (for that age group), we won everything we played at nine, we’re state champs at 10, battled through the sections, took it to the if game of the sections last year at 11 and made states this year.”
Nottingham blew through the districts and sectionals, outscoring six foes, 75-6. It marked the first 12-year-old Section 3 title since 2012 for both Nottingham and District 12.
But Bayonne, which went on to win the states and was within one win of Williamsport on Aug. 11, proved too much in defeating Nottingham 11-1 in the first round of states. Dylan Schaefer, just 10 years old, threw an outstanding second game, but Cresskill pushed across a late run to win.
One bright spot for NLL was that Enzo DiMartino, who smashed three homers in the tournament season, won the state home run championship the next day with six dingers.
DiMartino was part of a powerful lineup that included Muits, Christian Bianchi, TJ Chew, Austin Marshall, Gavin Jones, Jackson Bishop, Dom Bongrazio, Schaefer, Liam Bright, Logan Whitman and Michael Gargione. Muits, DiMartino and Schaefer handled the brunt of the pitching.
It was an exciting team that gave the district a title it had not had in 14 years. And it gave the Bongrazio family another champion this summer, as the manager’s aunt Nancy was part of the winning cornhole championship team at a Steinert class reunion in June.
“These kids are the most special group I’ve ever had the pleasure of coaching,” Bongrazio said. “I’ll never forget any single one of them. The teams changed throughout the years but the core always stayed the same. It’s the best group of kids I ever had in my life. It’s hard to say goodbye.”
Nottingham 11s
While the 12s were touted as the first team in their age group to win a Section 3 title in 14 years, this group was the first 11-year-old squad to do so for NLL/District 12 since 2011.
It should serve as a strong springboard to the always-anticipated Road to Williamsport season next summer, but Chris Talar knows nothing is a lock.
“We have high expectations for next year but are fully aware that nothing will be given to us and Nottingham will always have a bullseye on our backs,” the manager said. “No one cares how successful we were from seven to 11 years old. When the 12-year-old season starts everyone is 0-0.”
That being said, this team has been on a steady climb from the start.
“Since the boys were seven years old the core group of kids has helped our team be very successful,” Talar said. “We coaches are very happy with the progression this team has made over the years and the positive direction we are heading in, especially after an earlier than expected end to our 10-year-old summer in sections.”
There was no such premature end this season.
After rolling to its second straight District 12 title by outscoring four foes 44-11, the Square Boys showed they could win by more than blowouts. They started Section 3 play with a 10-0 victory over Toms River but then defeated Freehold Township by scores of 3-2 and 5-4 in nine innings.
“Our goal was to win districts and then we knew that Section 3 is one of the toughest in the state,” Talar said. “To win Section 3 was a huge accomplishment. In the championship game against Freehold Nate Kleinz pitched seven innings, which is unheard of for little league with the strict pitch count rules, and Joey Costello came in to pitch two great innings of relief and also had the walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth.”
The starting lineup included catchers Austin Talar (also shortstop) and Mason Schiaretti, first baseman Adrian Cicale, second baseman Ryan Brettell, shortstop Lucas Espinal, third baseman Gio Rodriguez, left fielder Costello, center fielder Kleinz and right fielder Dom Otter.
Christian Fuhrman, Kleinz, Talar and Costello were the main pitchers, while power-hitting Robbie Delaversano and Luke Leonardi both contributed as extra hitters.
Talar’s assistants were Tom “The Principal” Brettell, Joe Fuhrman and Alfie Espinal.
The offense was paced by Talar at leadoff and Kleinz in the three-hole. Cicale was the top power hitter, who was outstanding in districts but missed sections and states due to a health issue.
Nottingham geared up for districts by playing in a competitive tournament in Bucks County. Despite going 0-3, Nottingham mounted huge comebacks in each game.
“The goal was not to win, it was to test our team and build camaraderie amongst the boys,” Talar said. “Losing those games and fighting until the end is what made this team so tough.”
While two district wins were blowouts and another was an 11-7 victory, Nottingham did have to eke out a 2-1 win over Bordentown in which it scored the go-ahead run in the sixth inning. Against Robbinsville, the Square Boys rallied from a 4-0 deficit with 10 runs in the final two innings.
“Even when playing from behind, the team never lost confidence and found ways to win,” Talar said. “The state tournament was very competitive (with a 4-3 loss to Stafford and 5-3 setback to Hoboken). We had to deal with some adversity with Aidrian being out and just prior to the final game Ryan Brettell sustained a hand injury so we only batted with 10 kids.
“With little time to prepare we went into that game without our first and second basemen. But like a good teams do, other teammates stepped up and filled those roles with minimal preparation.”
Sunnybrae 10s
The Brae not only lost its first game ever, but also lost the first tournament in its existence.
But it still had one heck of a tournament season.
Sunnybrae won its third District 12 title and, after falling into the elimination bracket after the first round of Section 3, it battled back to the championship round with two wins before falling to a talented Freehold Township squad.
In districts, the Yardville Gang shut out Robbinsville in the opener and Nottingham in the championship game. In between, Lawrence provided a challenge in an 11-7 victory.
“The boys have brought true meaning to the word ‘team,’” manager Matt Sweeney said. “From day one of practice, the focus was on the overall success of the team and not its individuals. Supporting one another and challenging each other to be better every day. Their commitment to this team and the league has allowed them to continue playing great baseball.”
In the sectionals, this group suffered its first-ever loss when Jackson-Holbrook took a 3-2 first-round win. Rather than stagger at the shock of losing, the Brae topped Howell Central, 9-3, and Jackson-Holbrook, 8-3, to reach the championship round.
“Adversity is crucial to the development of our players,” Sweeney said. “As a coaching staff, we have done our best to prepare our players for both success and failure. Losing is a part of the game and our team never panicked. Their goal was to win, and when failure came their way, they knew quitting was not an option.
“We play in a region full of many talented players and teams. The goal is never to go undefeated. The goal is incremental progress to be prepared for what comes down the road. Playing the long game is not always easy but there is so much to be learned along the way in both winning and losing.”
Sweeney and his coaching staff of Tom “Fuji” Fink and Sean Kelleher had to ask their team to apply those lessons when it fell to Freehold Township in the final. It marked the first tournament loss for the squad, but the manager wants to make it a positive.
“Our team goal is to gain experiences that serve as the foundation for future success,” Sweeney said. “Losing is a part of the game that could be used as an advantage. Being comfortable creates an environment where players overlook areas of their game that need improvement. These boys are hungry to win, hungry to learn, and hungry for what challenges are coming down the road.”
The team’s main pitcher was Grayson “Harper” Fink, while the starting lineup defensively was catcher Bryce Bell, first baseman Luke Kinsella, second baseman Colin Kelleher, shortstop Colton Falconio, third baseman Kalan Sweeney, left fielder Hudson DeSimone, center fielder Ethan Scheps and right fielder Mason Stillewell. Extra hitters included catcher Joey “Little MB Master” Papero and outfielders Joe Brown and Grayson Recchia.
Other starting pitchers were Kinsella and Falconio, while relievers were Scheps and Kelleher.
“Our starting pitchers were fantastic by throwing strikes and keeping games close,” Sweeney said. “Bryce Bell and Joey Papero worked incredibly hard behind the plate. We had solid defense by Ethan Scheps in centerfield and Kalan Sweeney at third base. All in, our team never relied on a single player to win. Team effort is how this team wins.”
Nottingham 8s
Manager Jason Fleming and his coaching staff saw the potential for a successful run before the tournament season even started.
“All of our players held their own in the Minors Division at NLL this spring playing against 9, 10 and even 11 year olds,” Fleming said. “A majority of our team also plays travel baseball and have had success there, so we were looking forward to seeing what they could accomplish all together.”
They accomplished quite a bit. Nottingham went 3-0 in the districts, outscoring teams 28-10.
It wasn’t quite so easy in Section 3 play. After winning their first two games by a combined three runs, the Square Boys suffered their first loss when Clark took a 9-7 victory to force the always nerve-wracking “if” game.
But Nottingham would not wilt as it bounced back with a 6-5 victory to give NLL its third sectional title of the summer.
And while the title game was exciting, the winner’s bracket final against Middletown was the one Nottingham will never forget.
“We were down nine runs in the fourth inning and ended up winning 10-9 in the pouring rain,” Fleming said. “That is one we will remember for a long time.
“Our boys responded amazing to pressure and never gave up. They picked each other up time and time again. We had come-from-behind wins in the district championship and two sectional games.”
Fleming was assisted by Ken Ridge, Jeff Hurley, Kyle Kaminskas and Mike Bongrazio. The starting lineup featured catcher Ryan Kaminskas, first baseman Gavin Muits, second baseman Kenny Ridge, shortstop Gabi Rodriguez, third baseman Marco Bograzio, left fielders JJ Fleming and Carson Hurley, center fielders Cash Napoliello and Dante Serenelli, right fielders Vincent DeFrancis and Massimo Toto and No. 1 pitcher Tino Toto.
“This was a team effort,” Fleming said. “From the top to the bottom of the lineup all players contributed in the three tournaments we played in.”
The 8s lost two straight state games but put up a fight in their second contest before dropping a 5-4 decision to Hasbrouck Heights.
Nonetheless, it was Nottingham’s first trip to the states since the 2023 team won the first-ever 8-year-old state title.
“This summer the eights followed the same format as the older teams and it was the first time in NLL history that three different teams were playing in the state tournament for their respective age groups,” Fleming said. “We really felt the support from the entire NLL family and it was a special year to be a part of.”
