Fans Turn Out to Support NJ Little League Team at World Series

The Par-Troy East All-Stars won the right last weekend to represent the Mid-Atlantic Region, which stretches from New York to D.C.

The Parsippany Little League baseball team may have lost its first World Series game Friday, but fans are expected to be out in force in Williamsport, Pa. Saturday for the team's second chance to win the international title.

The Par-Troy East All-Stars won the right last weekend to represent the Mid-Atlantic Region, which stretches from New York to D.C. That's where the team also won an award for best sportsmanship. 

"I'm just as proud of that as I am of winning the tournament," said James Bucciarelli, president of the Par-Troy East Little League.

The All-Stars are the best players from the six teams, and Bucciarelli said he had an idea they were something special when they first started playing together several years ago. 

Mayor James Barberio noted that some of the players come from the Lake Hiawatha section of town, which was devastated by flooding last year.

He applauded the team members for their "hard work" over the years to get to Williamsport. 

One hundred and thirty children and adults had boarded three buses to travel to Pennsylvania for Friday's first game. The Par-Troy East All Stars ended up losing 5-2 to a team from San Antonio. 

But in the fans' eyes, "they're already winners, these boys," said Denise DePietro, a mother of a younger Little Leaguer.

"We're excited to be here," she said.

Because of the double-elimination nature of the Little League World Series, Par-Troy East will have to win Saturday, or come home early.  
 
The Fairfield Americans from Fairfield, Conn. won the New England regional but they also lost their first game, and face the same pressure as Par-Troy East.

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