They’re back!

An all-star Little League team from Toms River, New Jersey stormed back into Williamsport and got off to the right start. Picking up where they left off, Toms River won its first game of the 1999 Series 6-0 against the South champs from Phenix City, Alabama.

Casey Gaynor threw a one-hitter and struck out eight in the U.S. Pool opener while 12,400 Little League fans looked on at Howard J. Lamade stadium. Gaynor, who was the winning pitcher in last year’s World Series looked calm and composed on the mound as he watched his defense take care of the batted balls. “They caught everything we hit,” said Colby Rasmus of the South champions.

The Toms River offense came through as usual with eight hits including two big homeruns. Jeff Burgdorff and Steve Bernath were the ones who went deep. Burgdorff’s was a two-run shot while Bernath’s was a solo shot. “I just tried to hit it hard and it went over,” Burgdorff said. “I knew a curveball was coming so I hit it. But it’s not so much the homerun I’m happy about. I’m happy just to be in Williamsport.”

The South’s lone hit off of Gaynor came via Zack Martin. His lead-off single started a fourth inning rally, but the South couldn’t bring any runs across. “We were thoroughly spanked,” said South manager Tony Rasmus. “They made some great plays.”

So the East is off to a great start. When manager Mike Gaynor was asked how this year’s team compares to last year’s, he said, “I don’t know. I’ll tell you on Saturday.”

--Mark Rogoff
   Special Correspondent