Jackson, NJ -  After suffering a heartbreaking defeat to the Toms River East Little League Thursday night, the Jackson Little League All-Stars bounced back the next day to defeat the Toms River Little League team by a score of 12-10.     The team which many in the district discounted and didn’t expect to advance past pool play once again dominated opposing pitching and pulled out yet another victory, securing their spot in the District 18 (Northern Ocean County) Little League Championship game on Sunday, advancing past the first few hurdles in the long road to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA.

Jackson erupted for five first inning runs with hits from Charles Dimino, Kyle Missy and a two-run homerun by Steve Lazicki. Shane Brand pitched the first two innings for Jackson and left the game with a 5-4 lead. Jackson put up four more runs on the score board in the third inning with Shane Brand cracking a two run homerun and Brandon Janofsky’s RBI single. Charles Dimino pitched the next three innings holding the scrappy Toms River East American team to four runs. Jackson scored three more times in the fifth inning capped with RBI hits by Lazicki and Brand. Jackson took a 12-7 lead into the bottom of the sixth when thing got interesting, a homerun, two errors and a single pulled Toms River East to 12-10 with the tying run on 2^nd base. Brandon Janofsky relieved Dimino and retired three batters to secure the Jackson victory and advance them to the championship round of the District 18 tournament.

The team, led by Manager John Cunningham and coaches Bob Brand and Charlie Dimino helped their team’s pitching outlook for the next game with a pitching strategy that leaves Jackson’s top starters still eligible for Sunday’s Championship game against the undefeated Toms River Little League American team that came back from behind to defeat Jackson on Thurday with a walk off home run.   Jackson still has to beat the Toms River team two times to advance.   Jackson now moves to the District 18 Championship game which will be played at Jackson’s Holbrook Little League Complex on Sunday, July 12th.  First pitch is at 2:00 PM.

Cunningham secures a first inning walk in his first at bat after a stint on the DL.  Jackson would go on to score 5 runs in the top of the 1st.

Jackson’s bleacher creatures cheered and chanted for their town’s team, motivating their team and shaking up the Toms River team.