The hopes were high when Stafford Little League’s 10-and-under all-star baseball team embarked on Anderson Field in Bloomingdale for its first-round match-up of the state tournament on July 27. Unfortunately, those hopes were dashed somewhat quickly.

Stafford lost its first contest, 10-0, in four innings to a powerful Morristown American squad, then was bounced from the double-elimination tourney the next day following another 10-0 defeat against a solid Two Rivers West club.