Holbrook Little League Advances to State Championship

The 12-year old all-stars out of Jackson's Holbrook Little League are one victory away from a state championship.

Holbrook defeated Swedesboro-Woolwich, 10-4, on Friday night to reach the championship game out of the winner's bracket at the Joe Graziano Little League State Tournament being held at Kittatinny Little League in Newton. Holbrook will face the winner of Saturday night's game between Wayne and Swedesboro-Woolwich for the championship game at 7 p.m. on Sunday. Whichever team advances to face Holbrook will have one loss and need to win two games to win the championship while Holbrook can secure the state championship with one win since it is unbeaten in the double-elimination tournament.

Holbrook has mashed its way through the district, section and now state tournaments with a fearsome lineup that has put up runs in bunches. Friday night was no different as Holbrook belted five home runs, including two by Anthony Abbonizio, to reach the state final. Chris Andrews struck out seven on the mound and also hit a two-run home run while Christopher Cartnick and Tai Mann also hit home runs.

Holbrook won its opening game of the tournament, 6-4 over Jersey City's Washington Park Little League, on Thursday night. In that game Cartnick scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth inning when he scored on a third-strike wild pitch to make it 4-3, capping a four-run inning that propelled Holbrook to victory.

On Sunday night Holbrook will try to become the fourth straight Shore team to win the state title and advance to the East Regional Tournament in Bristol, Conn. (Toms River won in 2014, Jackson in 2015 and Freehold Township in 2016).

For directions to the game use the address: 1 Rumsey Way, Netwon, NJ. The field is Hampton Township Field 2 and is located behind the Hampton Township Municipal Building.

Managing editor Bob Badders can be reached at bob.badders@townsquaremedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bob_Badders. Like Shore Sports Network on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the latest video highlights.