Upper Providence finishes off Regional with title

The domination is complete.

Upper Providence made that happen Saturday. Pennsylvania’s 11U champion, which qualified for the 2021 Little League World Series two nights earlier, wrapped up play in the Mid-Atlantic Regional with a 10-3 win over Toms River East (N.J.) at the A. Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center.

Upper Providence LL was down 3-2 in the top of the fourth inning when Tommy Sergio doubled on the first pitch of the atbat, scoring two runs.

UP got things started in the first inning when Sergio homered on a 1-0 count, scoring two runs. It took the lead for good with two runs in the fourth, then scored four in the sixth. Aidan Ludwig, Ryan McVey and Carter Bunn all sent runners across the plate in the inning.

Sam Buckley earned the win for Upper Providence. The pitcher went 4-1/3 innings, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out 11. Sergio threw 1/2-3 in relief.

Carson Frazier took the loss for Toms River East. He went 4-1/3 innings, allowing six runs on 14 hits, striking out three and walking one.

Upper Providence collected 18 hits in the game. Sergio, Aidan Ludwig (3-for-4), Buckley, McVey (two RBI), Cooper Fanaro (two doubles) and Timmy Burns (two

RBI) each managed multiple hits for the Pennsylvania champions.

Sergio led UP with four hits in four at bats, driving in four runs with help from a home run and double.

For the tournament, Upper Providence outscored the opposition 31-8 in four games.

The 2021 Little League World Series will again be staged in Williamsport, at the Little League International Complex, between Aug. 19 and 29, The tournament will be comprised solely of 16 American teams (no international field) organized into two divisions named for Major League Baseball greats Hank Aaron and Tom Seaver.

Upper Providence will be in the Seaver Division as the Mid-Atlantic A entry. Toms River East will be in the Aaron Division, designated Mid-Atlantic B.

UP will open play 1 p.m. Friday (Aug. 20) against Lake Oswego (Ore.), the Northwest B designate.