Par-Troy East Heads Into Game 2 at Williamsport

The Par-Troy Little League All-Stars hope to have a better outcome from Game 2 of the Little League World Series than they did Friday. New Jersey's boys of summer take on the All-Stars of Oregon at 8 p.m. Saturday. The game will be televised on ESPN and ESPN.com

Bener Uygun is expected to serve as starting pitcher.

The Parsippany team struggled during its opener Friday against San Antonio, Texas, losing by a score of 5-2. Many fans who traveled from the township via buses offered by the PTLLE mused that the team defeated itself by creating numerous errors that resulted in Texas runs.

Win or lose, however, the team's fans are squarely in its corner. More than 100 Parsippany residents made the trip via the bus and many more drove to the Little League complex in South Williamsport, Pa., to cheer on the 12-year-olds. Estimates are that more than 1,000 people from Parsippany were on hand for Friday's game.

Three of those fans used to live in Parsippany. Though they've been gone for about a decade, three generations of the Freidel clan were represented. 

"It's all about being here with my father and my son," said George E. Freidel, who now lives in Hasbrouck Heights. "This is bringing back a lot of memories from when we were part of Par-Troy East."

Freidel grew up in Parsippany.

"I played in the Par-Troy East Little League back in the 1970s," he said. "And my dad was manager and coach. I gotta support the team I grew up in."

The baseball team he grew up in was a distinguished team in Parsippany history. The 1974 Par-Troy East All-Stars won the District Championship that year—the first township team ever to take that prize.

George C. Freidel, father of George E. and Chuck and a daughter who played softball, radiated excitement and pride for the team and for his huge role in its storied past.

"That was a great time," he said, thinking back to the '74 district tournament. "We had a great group of boys, just like this one," he said. "I hope they go all the way."

The best part of the experience, he said, was getting to share it with his kids.

"Being the manager and having your boys with you...," he recalled, noting his connection to current Manager Mike Ruggiero, "was priceless. Very special."

Ruggiero's son Daniel is one of the Parsippany All-Stars.

Freidel notes that baseball is a way of life for his family.

His brother Chuck, who also played with PTLLE, played professional ball, spending three seasons with a New York Mets minor league team.

His 9-year-old son Connor—George C.'s grandson—plays little league ball in Hasbrouck Heights.

"I play catcher, mostly, and shortstop," the potential future Little League World Series star said. "I really like it."

Connor's dad said he had a great time reliving old memories with his old friends during the approximately three-hour bus trip. 

Freidel noted that his brother Chuck, will be in attendance at Saturday night's game.

"He lives in Rockaway now, and he's coming with another friend who used to play in the league."

As the bus hurtled across Interstate 80, he talked about his thoughts after the Game 1 loss.

"Will they win? I hope so," he said. "I hope to come back for the championships."