'You can be sad and not cry': Holbrook falls short of Little League NJ state title

SECAUCUS -- Life lessons were learned Sunday by the Holbrook Little League’s All-Star team Sunday. Despite playing a competitive game, the team from Jackson Township fell just shy in the state tournament 12s final in losing to East Hanover 4-3.

That meant disappointment for third baseman JJ Ballard and others but Ballard said he had been in tough losses before - he said learning to handle the emotions is a learning process.

“Last season it was a close game, too. It didn't happen then for us. And I started crying because I was sad,” JJ said. “And then the same thing this year. But I know I can be sad and I don’t have to cry. You can be sad and not cry.”

Holbrook was vying for another trip to World Series

Holbrook was vying for its second state title and another trip to the Little League World Series - the program reached the World Series Final Four in 2017.

But instead it was East Hanover winning its first state title and going on to the Metro Region Tournament in Bristol, Connecticut later this week. It took a sweep of two games from Holbrook over Saturday and Sunday to get it done - Holbrook had been sailing through an undefeated summer with a 14-0 record until the weekend.

“This was a long time coming,” East Hanover manager Joe Cheringal said. “Big shout out to Holbrook. They are a great program. But we persevered.”

Historic moment: East Hanover Little League wins NJ state championship with victory over Holbrook

“We knew we were going to have a good team this year. But no one thought we would make it this far,” said East Hanover shortstop Tyler Ciasullo, who scored the first run during an early go-ahead rally.

Assistant coach Jason Ballard: 'Life is about ups and downs'

The season may be over in the Little League world for Holbrook but it's still baseball and more baseball for the kids on travel teams, including JJ and his brother, Tyler, who's also on the team.

JJ and Tyler's dad, assistant coach Jason Ballard, said the experience showed that “life is about ups and downs. It just matters how you respond to that adversity."

“This team has been tested and each time they respond in a positive way. Today they fought. They gave it everything they had," he said.

JJ will be aged out of the 12s division next year; Tyler, who's 10, could be back for more. But that decision will be up to him, Jason Ballard said.

“I will be there to support Tyler and give him the same opportunities and be with him like I did, JJ,” he said. “Hopefully we can bring some of that same success back we did have this year.”

Holbrook outhit East Hanover 5-4 in the finale with JJ Ballard and Shaun Wood leading the way with doubles.

How the Holbrook and East Hanover rematch got set up

The state tournament has a double-elimination format; only Holbrook and East Hanover remained alive entering the weekend, but East Hanover was carrying one loss on its record.

Thus the need for East Hanover to win Saturday's game to force the winner-take-all Sunday game.

East Hanover won 2-0 Saturday.

More: Holbrook Little League chasing history; opens NJ state championship with big win

Timely hits aided East Hanover in Saturday’s game.

“But we also had people in scoring position a couple of times. We were able to put the hits together to get our guys across,” Holbrook manager Erik Johnson said.

More: Little League baseball NJ state tournament: Holbrook schedule, scores, updates

JJ Ballard pitched Holbrook into a chance to win on Saturday

It was ace against ace at the mound as Holbrook’s JJ Ballard matched up against East Hanover’s Anthony Abrantes.

East Hanover managed two runs off just three hits. Holbrook mustered four hits in six innings.

East Hanover drew first blood in the bottom of the third off a solo homer from catcher Charlie Dorst, the No. 8 hitter, and insurance was tacked with a walked-in run in the fifth inning.

Ballard had two hits including a standup double. Mason Monday pitched in relief for the boys from Jackson after JJ pitched 4 ⅔ innings.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Holbrook Little League loses to East Hanover in NJ state final