Little Leaguers' First-Round Loss

The East Hampton 9-10 Little League traveling all-stars, who had won the District 36 championship the night before, lost a first-round Section IV game Tuesday to Smithtown-St. James, the District 35 champion, by a score of 12-5.

"It was disheartening," Tim Garneau, one of the young Bonackers' coaches, said Wednesday morning. "We were up 5-2 after four innings and then the rain came, just like in the big leagues. It was a 40-minute delay. When we came back they bunted us to death and we made a lot of errors. They scored 10 runs in that disastrous inning, but, frankly, they weren't as good as the Longwood team we beat in the district championship game. In other words, I think our chances of coming back, though we'll have to win four games in a row, are pretty good."

Hudson Meyer started on the mound for East Hampton, giving up two unearned runs in the four innings he pitched. Andrew Brown relieved him after the rain delay.

As a result of the loss, East Hampton dropped into the losers bracket in the double-elimination tournament. It is to play the Smithtown-St. James/East Meadow loser this evening at the Central Islip Little League field at 5:45. Kai Alversa, whose father, Vinny, coaches East Hampton High School's varsity baseball team, is expected to start.

The rest of the games — provided East Hampton continues to win -- are to be played at Otsego Park in Dix Hills on Friday (at 6), Sunday (at 11), and, if necessary, on Monday (at 6).