Hamilton, NJ | Section 3 Little League Tournament | July 2025
There are baseball games you forget by the next morning—and then there are the ones that stick with you. Saturday’s dramatic walk-off between Jackson-Holbrook and Nottingham in the Section 3 Little League Baseball tournament was firmly the latter. It had all the ingredients of a classic: a comeback, a clutch hit, controversy, and two squads playing with every ounce of heart they had.
This wasn’t just another Little League game in New Jersey—it was a battle that could shape the road to a state title. And if Saturday’s game was any indication, the road is going to be anything but easy.
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A Game That Had It All
Jackson-Holbrook entered the weekend undefeated, and Nottingham came in riding their own wave of momentum. By the time the dust settled on this one, it was J-H who celebrated a walk-off 5-4 win—sending the locals from Nottingham into the elimination bracket.
But this wasn’t a blowout or a runaway. It was a tightrope walk—every inning a tug-of-war between two championship-caliber teams. Nottingham clawed back from a 2-0 deficit to take a 4-2 lead, only to have the game ripped away in the bottom of the sixth by a clutch, two-strike single off the bat of Niko Gryvatz.
It was a dagger. But it wasn’t the end.
“Every Good Story Starts With a Loss”
That’s how Nottingham manager Adam Reymann framed it postgame, refusing to let the heartbreak overshadow what’s still on the table.
“Now we gotta do it the hard way,” Reymann said. “There’s no doubt we’ll be back—we just have to beat them twice.”
Nottingham isn’t done. But they’ve got to win four straight if they want to raise a sectional banner—starting with an elimination game on Monday against the winner of Sunday’s South Wall vs. Lincroft showdown.
The Drama in the Details
The loss was frustrating for Nottingham not just because of the final score, but also because of a strategic twist allowed under Little League rules. Jackson-Holbrook brought just 10 players to the game, compared to Nottingham’s 12. While perfectly legal, it allowed J-H’s top hitters to get more at-bats—since every player on the roster must hit in rotation.
It’s a loophole, and one many in attendance would love to see closed. But J-H played within the rules, and they played to win.
And win they did.
How It Happened
Jackson-Holbrook struck first. LJ Brown opened the game with a single, and Tyler Ballard promptly launched a two-run shot to right. Just like that, it was 2-0.
Nottingham waited until the fourth to respond. Matteo Pandolfini, their ace on the mound, got them started with a moonshot solo homer—his third of the postseason. That sparked a two-run rally, and they added two more in the fifth on a double steal and a wild pitch to make it 4-2.
But in the sixth, Jackson-Holbrook proved why they’re undefeated. Cooper Brown doubled. LJ Brown singled. Ballard drew an intentional walk—his second of the game. Pandolfini, who had battled valiantly all afternoon, struck out Gavin Hobbs in a gritty at-bat. But he hit Dominick Calese to bring in a run.
Then came Gryvatz. With two outs and two strikes, he laced a single into right field. Two runs scored. Game over. Dogpile on the infield. Section 3 chaos.
“I just wanted to put the ball in play,” Gryvatz said. “Didn’t want to strike out in that moment.”
Mission accomplished.
A Moment That Shifted the Momentum
Nottingham had their highlight, too. In the third inning, trailing 2-0 with J-H threatening, Brennan Talar made what might’ve been the play of the tournament so far. On a single to center, he fielded it cleanly, popped up, and fired a strike to Tim Reymann at home to nab the runner trying to score.
It was a game-saving play at the time and swung momentum hard in Nottingham’s favor.
“That’s a strike from centerfield,” said Coach Reymann. “Brennan’s our next pitcher and now you see why.”
What’s Next for These Teams?
- Jackson-Holbrook (4-0) now waits in the championship round, needing just one more win to claim the Section 3 title.
- Nottingham (4-1) has to run the table, win Monday’s elimination game, and beat Jackson-Holbrook twice in a potential two-game final to keep their season alive.
It’s a tall order—but not impossible. This is Little League baseball in New Jersey. Anything can happen.
Why This Matters
For these 12-year-olds, this isn’t just about baseball. It’s about competing. It’s about representing their communities. It’s about learning how to bounce back, how to lose with dignity, and how to fight for something bigger than themselves.
And for the fans, it’s a reminder of why we show up to the diamond in the first place.
This tournament has already delivered drama, emotion, and highlight-reel moments—and we’re not done yet.
Keep following all the action and stay up to date with more stories from the youth baseball circuit over at Explore New Jersey Baseball.
Section 3 Score Recap
📍 Hamilton, NJ
🏆 Jackson-Holbrook 5, Nottingham 4
Nottingham (4-1): 000 220 – 4 5 0
Jackson-Holbrook (4-0): 200 003 – 5 7 4
- Winning Pitcher: Calese
- Losing Pitcher: Pandolfini
- HR: Ballard (J-H), Pandolfini (N)
- 2B: C. Brown (J-H)
- RBI: Gryvatz 2, Ballard 2, Calese (J-H); Pandolfini (N)
🏟️ Baseball in New Jersey is alive and well—and the story isn’t finished yet.