Northeastern suffers first Little League regional loss

This time the hole was too deep for Northeastern to climb out of.

New Jersey’s Elmora Little League team took a six-run lead before the Pennsylvania champs scored en route to an 8-4 win Tuesday in the Little League 9-10 Eastern Regional in Cranston, R.I.

Elmora remains the only unbeaten team in the Mid Atlantic Division. Northeastern has one loss.

Jayden Capindica got New Jersey’s offense rolling in the top of the third inning with a double to left field. Derek Escobar drove him in with a single and scored when Yadriel Mateo hit the third of three straight singles. Jayden Rosado scored on the throw. Jordan Rey drove in the fourth run of the inning with a single to right field.

New Jersey added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning on a single, double and error to give it a 6-0 lead.

Northeastern finally found the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth, on a pair of walks, one error and Drew Barshinger’s two-run single to left field.

The Pa. champs added two more in the bottom of the fifth on a double by Conner Rippo, single by Brandon Charleston and a mishandled ball hit by Bryson Neri.

Just when it looked like Northeastern was closing the gap, Elmora connected for a single and double in the top of the sixth inning and took advantage of a pair of walks to bring in two more runs for the final score.

Rosado led all players with three hits in four at-bats, and drove in one run. Mateo and Rey each drove in two runs for New Jersey.

Barshinger and Jared Shirk each had two hits for Northeastern, and Barshinger recorded the only RBI.

New Jersey used two pitchers to limit Northeastern to seven hits while recording five strikeouts and five walks. The Pa. champs’ four pitchers combined to give up nine hits and eight walks, but struck out 13.

Northeastern will play New York at 11 a.m. Thursday for the right to play in the Mid Atlantic championship on Friday.