Par-Troy 'Ecstatic' for Support of World Series Team

The is enjoying strong support from businesses and individuals throughout the township as its continues to compete in the 2012 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

"We're ecstatic," said John Bucciarelli, the league's president.

Part of the good feeling stems from the fundraising effort. Bucciarelli said there is no set money goal, but he estimated a figure between "$30,000 and $50,000."

That number comes from the president's calculation that each player's family spent roughly $200 per day during the 10-day trip to Bristol, Conn., for the.

"That's about $25,000 right there," he said. "And with at least five days in Pennsylvania, well, it adds up. Right now, we've raised about $16,000."

T-shirt sales at certainly helped, he said, noting that so far at $10 each. 

"We don't have an exact figure yet from that, but we certainly are grateful for everything Modell's is doing."

Class Act Embroidery also designed special hats for the occasion, and some local enterprises, such as in Lake Hiawatha, donated proceeds from sales to PTLLE.

Meanwhile, the league is tallying contributions from other local businesses, who donated during a canvassing effort by PTLLE boosters. 

also made a donation to its crosstown compatriot.

"We wish them good luck on their quest to win the Little League World Series in Williamsport," PTWLL President Frank Neglia said. "We're all behind them. We are all proud of their accomplishments and their representation of Parsippany."

If you would like to contribute, PTLLE is accepting donations via Paypal on its website. All of the money raised will go to reimburse the parents of the World Series Mid-Atlantic champs.

A tired-sounding Bucciarelli said he got back from Williamsport at about 2:30 Sunday morning following the , Saturday night.

"At the spur of the moment, we got together 30 people to take a bus up Saturday to see the game," he said. "Aristocrat [Limousine and Bus] didn't have any large buses available, but they did have a small 30-seater that we filled in a couple of hours.

"We're so glad that worked out, because it was a great game."

The only real cloud—one far more significant than the team's loss to Texas in Game 1 Friday—was the Sunday morning death of Manager Mike Ruggiero's father-in-law from a stroke, according to NJ.com.

Tracy Ruggiero, the manager's wife, told Patch that her father fell ill Friday. She said the family attempted to get to see him, but time ran short. All prayers are appreciated, she said.

Bucciarelli said a bus—donated by Aristocat, as were the ones that and Saturday—will be heading back to Williamsport Monday. It will leave from the parking lot of at 11 a.m. Seats are already sold out, according to PTLLE Vice President of Baseball Todd Finchler.

The Parsippany boys face the Petaluma, Calif., team Monday at 4 p.m. in the Little League World Series. (Petaluma is yet another Patch town.)

The game will be televised on ESPN and ESPN.com.