Toms River keep the fun going despite elimination from the Little League World Series

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - It was all over, and the Toms River fans were waiting by a stadium entrance to cheer their team after its hard-fought 3-1 loss to Hawaii Sunday afternoon at the Little League World Series. The defeat dashed the Jersey champions' title hopes, but this wasn't a downbeat crowd.

"We have nothing but good feelings," said Larry Ciervo, standing with his wife, Doreen. Their 12-year-old son, Jeff, is a catcher for the team.

"These kids accomplished so much just getting here," he said, to the cheers of the fans around him. "They have a heck of a lot to be proud of."

Representing the Mid-Atlantic region, Toms River National was gunning to be the first Jersey team to win the Little League World Series since Toms River East, another squad from the Ocean County township, defeated Japan in 1998.

The tournament continues through Sunday, with Toms River playing a consolation game against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday before heading home.

The day had started with much hope, even though Saturday's loss to Great Lakes had left the team on the brink of elimination.

"We're good," said Patrick Marinaccio, 12, during morning batting practice. The day before, he had put in a gutsy pitching performance, keeping the Great Lakes sluggers at bay for a few innings.

At Sunday morning practice, he played catch with Joey Rose, 12, who hit a home run over the left-field fence Saturday.

"It was so exciting with everybody there cheering and everything," Rose said. "I couldn't believe it was happening."

The parents weren't as calm.

Ciervo, an avid hunter, was at the park early to make sure manager Paul Deceglie got the new batch of homemade "good luck" jerky he had brought for the players.

Outside the stadium, Melissa Lumi, whose son, Billy, 13, plays right field, was eyeing the concession stands.

Like many parents, she and her husband, Bill, have been on the road with the team since the regional playoffs in Bristol, Conn., earlier this month.

Billy was starting school in a week, and she hadn't had a chance to buy him some new school clothes.

"Maybe I'll pick up one T-shirt of every team, and he can wear them for the first few weeks," she said.

Sunday's game was a nail-biter. Kevin Blum, 13, Toms River's power-hitting centerfielder, who has become a celebrity among the autograph-seeking children and picture-taking girls, slammed another homer. And everyone was sure Rose's spectacular running outfield catch, and the follow-up laser he threw to nail a runner at the plate, would make ESPN's Top 10 plays.

"That's my boy!" his father, Joe, yelled in the stands. "That's my boy!"

Keeping with the theme of sportsmanship at the heart of this tournament, the Toms River players lined up at the plate and managed some smiles as they congratulated the Hawaii team, whose fans were dancing and waving the giant tea leaves they had brought for good luck.

Reneé Marinaccio, Patrick's mother, wasn't too worried about how the kids would deal with the loss.

"They're 12 years old," she said. "They'll be OK."

Rather than being devastated by Saturday's loss, Reneé Marinaccio said, many of the players were excited to learn from their classmates in the crowd that their middle school, Intermediate North, had mailed letters announcing homeroom assignments.

"He made me call home and ask the neighbors to open the letter so he could know if he would be with his friends," she said.

The team members also were looking forward to finally joining the young fans who spent the weekend riding down the hill that sits just past the outfield. The stadium provides cardboard for children to slide down the grassy slope, which turned to mud after a morning rain.

Deceglie promised the players they'd be able to slide on the hill once all their games were over.

"They'll be thrilled," Marinaccio said. "They've all been wanting to do it since they got here."