Randolph East wins District 1 Little League title

MORRISTOWN – Surrounded by jubilant celebration, Dan Hamilton was looking for a baseball.

But not just any ball. Hamilton wanted the precise one he'd driven over the centerfield fence for a grand slam home run in the third inning of Randolph East's 13-6 District 1 Little League victory against East Hanover on Tuesday night.

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Hamilton had come off the bench cold but confident, with the bases loaded and one out, his team down by two runs. He went down two strikes, then fouled a ball off his teammate Jimmy Pepe's leg up the third base line.

Pepe went to the bench for ice, and Tommy Dinneny came on as a special pinch runner. Hamilton stepped back in, and got just the pitch he'd hoped for, a fastball right down the middle.

"In that kind of spot, I felt like I was important, to help the team take the lead," Hamilton said. "I see a pitch I know I can hit, swing, and see the ball fly out. I'm amazed. I'm happy. I'm proud. And the home runs just kept coming."

Hamilton's grand slam gave Randolph East a lead it would not relinquish. Shortstop Ryan Cox hit a first-pitch two-run homer to left-center in the fifth inning, and first baseman Liam Cassells had a three-run shot in the top of the sixth.

Centerfielder Alex Marks was 4-for-4 with two doubles and a walk, three runs scored and an RBI for Randolph East, which moves on to the Section 1 Tournament at Kittatinny.

The red-and-blue squad came out of the consolation bracket, defeating East Hanover twice in two nights.

East Hanover cleanup hitter Lou Matias was 3-for-3 with three RBI on Tuesday. Shortstop John Ruccio was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.

"We missed an opportunity to do something special," said East Hanover manager Frank Ruccio, noting his team had given up 19 runs in nine District 1 Tournament games before Tuesday night.

"They came out and beat us. They hit the ball hard. It's disappointing. We've been winning with pitching and power. We didn't have any tonight."

East Hanover had beaten Randolph East, 11-0, on Friday, sending it to the consolation bracket. Randolph East defeated Florham Park, 13-8, on Sunday to earn the rematch in what became a final series.

It is this Randolph East team's first title since the Mendham Tournament for 9-year-olds.

"It's unbelivable," said Cox, who finished 4-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored. "We worked so hard to try to get here. Having the feeling of accomplishing it, it's amazing."

Staff Writer Jane Havsy: 973-428-6682; jhavsy@gannettnj.com; www.dailyrecord.com/writerjane/