A History Making Summer
The Haddonfield U-11 Little League baseball team enjoyed a historic and wild run that led to a coveted state title.
This was the first Little League state championship for Haddonfield in any age group in town history, spanning 75 years. It was an All-Star team composed of the top players from the Haddonfield Little League.
Haddonfield opened the state championship in Wallington, New Jersey with a classic 7-6 win over formidable Toms River in 10 innings. (The Little League games are six innings).
Trailing 6-4 entering the bottom of the 10th inning, Haddonfield got within one run on an RBI single by Matt DeLano. Second baseman Marco Rocco, who had a monster playoff, eventually hit the game-winning two-run double. Rocco says he thought it was a fastball that he hit.
“I was a bit nervous because I knew we really wanted to win the game,” he said. “Once I got the hit, it really felt good and when I saw it barely over the head [of the center fielder] I knew it would drop.”
Had Haddonfield lost that opener, it would have had to play in the loser’s bracket and essentially have to win five games. Instead, Haddonfield needed just three games to win it.
In the opening win, Rocco was 3-for-5 with three doubles, two runs scored and three RBI. Rocco also earned the win with one inning of relief. Starting pitcher Julian Saft allowed just one earned run in 3 2/3 innings. First baseman Christian White pitched two scoreless innings and Paul Goldin allowed just one run in three innings, while striking out six.
“I was throwing a two-seam, and four-seam fastball, a curveball and knuckle ball just to mess up the hitters,” Goldin said. “Everything seemed to be working and my confidence was very high as I got into my groove.”
Among the other standouts, infielder PK Fay was 1-for-2 with two RBI. DeLano, who was a standout at shortstop during the state tourney run, was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, a walk and an RBI. White went 3-for-4 with a run scored and Goldin reached base three times on walks.
Next up was a 3-2 win over Morristown in seven innings. Left fielder Landon Tripician was 1-for-2 with an RBI. Saft went 2-for-2 with a run scored and designated hitter Alex Koplove was 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Finn Hadden was the starter and allowed just one earned run, while striking out four in four innings. Jack Crookshank then pitched a scoreless inning and Rocco earned the victory with two shutout innings.
Haddonfield clinched the state title with a 9-5 win over Toms River. The champs set an early tone with seven first inning runs, wiping out a 2-0 deficit.
Saft earned the win, pitching the first three innings and allowing two earned runs. Rocco had the save with 1 2/3 innings of shutout relief, striking out four.
Leading the offensive attack was Rocco, who went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI. White was 2-for-3 with a run scored and Fay went 2-for-2 with a run and an RBI. DeLano was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI. Crookshank was 1-for-2 with two RBI. Catcher Rhys Williams and Saft each contributed a run scored and an RBI.
“Everybody at some point had a huge role in our success, which was so much more rewarding,” said head coach Frank DeLano, who is also the head high school head football coach at Haddonfield High. “These kids loved playing for each other.”
In the three games, Rocco went 6-for-11 (.545) with three runs, six doubles and five RBI. He also went 2-0 with a save in the three games, with eight strikeouts and no walks and a 1.50 ERA in 4 2/3 innings.
“I felt good and was really happy for the team and everybody who made so many big plays,” Rocco said.
The season ended when Haddonfield went 2-1 in regional competition staged in Beverly, Massachusetts. Haddonfield beat Vermont, 4-1, lost 10-2 to Maryland and beat Pennsylvania 12-5.
Still, the team accomplished so much and was rewarded with a parade in town before leaving for the regionals.
“Once the parade started, we realized what a cool accomplishment it was,” Goldin said. “We had a bunch of our friends cheering and it was really cool.”
The players weren’t the only ones caught up in the euphoria.
Ken Goldin, the father of Paul, is well known for the Netflix series about his company titled: ‘The King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch.’ He was a dedicated follower of this Haddonfield team.
“This is much more important to me than anything else,” Ken Goldin said. “I dropped everything I was doing to follow Paul around and what a thrill to see what the team accomplished.”
All told, Haddonfield went 12-1 in district, sectional, state and regional competition.
It was a run that the players, parents and fans of the team will always remember.
Haddonfield U-11 Roster
Jack Crookshank, Matt DeLano, PK Fay, Finn Hadden, Paul Goldin, Alex Koplove, Marco Rocco, Brayden Rutherford, Julian Saft, Landon Tripician, Christian White, Rhys Williams.
Head Coach: Frank DeLano. Assistants: Brian White, Mike Koplove, Joe Rocco, Kevin Fay.
Photo Courtesy: Haddonfield Little League
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Author: Marc Narducci
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