Morristown Little League wins NJ state championship, topping Lincroft in final game

Morris County is once again the epicenter of Little League baseball in New Jersey.

For the second time in as many years, a Morris County team claimed a state championship when the Morristown 12-year olds beat Lincroft, 9-4, on Saturday night at Freehold Township. It is Morristown’s first state title in 39 years and third in history, joining the great Morristown National teams that won state crowns in 1982 and 1985.

Morristown is just the eighth Morris County team to capture a Little League state title since the tournament was first held in 1957, and follows last year's East Hanover team .

"It's been a rewarding experience for the boys this summer. They're having a lot of fun," coach Billy Andrinopoulos said. "There were a lot of high expectations going in to the season. Most of the boys played together the last couple of years and had a lot of success at the younger age levels. There's a lot of history with Morristown Little League and it's great to keep that tradition going."

Two days after Thursday's 11-1 victory over Lincroft in a matchup of opening-round winners , unbeaten Morristown erased a first-inning 4-0 deficit on Saturday, answering back with six runs in the bottom of the inning, one in the third, and two in the fifth to secure the title.

In the first inning, Will Hery hit an RBI double and Penn Pukash singled to pull Morristown within 4-2. Charlie Porter then dealt the knockout blow when he smacked an RBI double to left field to give his team a 5-4 lead.

Pitcher Tyler Sharperson earned the win, going five innings while giving up three hits, four runs and nine strikeouts. Dean Conway pitched one inning, striking out three in relief.

"The team is even-keeled, but they're excited and looking forward to what's ahead," Andrinopoulos said. "They know there's a lot of work in front of them and that they're not done."

Morristown (13-0), the Section 1 and District 1 champions, will face the Connecticut state champions on Saturday at 4 p.m. (ESPN Plus) in Game 1 of the Metro-Region in Bristol, Connecticut, with berths in the 2024 Little League World Series on the line. A win would push the team into Monday's winner's bracket at 1 p.m., while and a loss would drop them to the loser's bracket on Sunday at 7 p.m.

Morristown’s path to the state title began with a 9-1 win over Section 2 and District 6 champion Livingston on July 24. Morristown needed just the minimum three games of the double-elimination tournament to sweep its way to the New Jersey crown.

In 13 games this summer, Morristown has dominated, outscoring its opponents, 136-12 with five shutouts.

"Our pitching is very deep and we've been able to turn to a lot of different players in big spots," Andrinopoulos said. "The entire lineup has a lot of exposure and reps before the summer season started and that's been helpful. We're a confident team that knows how to win."

Morristown looks to become the first Morris County team to capture the Mid-Atlantic Region and advance to Williamsport, site of the Little League World Series, since Par Troy East (Parsippany) in 2012, and the first New Jersey team since Elmora Youth (Elizabeth) in 2019.

Other Morris County teams to capture New Jersey Little League state titles include East Hanover (2023), Parsippany Troy East (2012), Randolph (2007), Randolph West (2001), Pequannock (2000), and Morristown National (1985 and 1982).

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Morristown Little League wins NJ state championship, topping Lincroft in final game