New York's Rolando Paulino Little League all-star team received the lion's share of attention during its journey to the Little League World Series -- both before and after Little League Baseball stripped the Bronx organization of its tournament victories due to a series of rules violations. (Click here for a summary of events surrounding the Rolando Paulino team.)

Despite the intense media focus on the New Yorkers -- Danny Almonte would ultimately pitch what was easily the most heavily covered third-place game in Little League World Series history -- Rolando Paulino wasn't the only story at the region tournament. The five other participants -- State College American Little League (Pennsylvania), Randolph West Little League (New Jersey), Easton Little League (Maryland), Midway Little League (Wilmington, Delaware), and Capitol City Little League (Washington D.C.) -- were denied the chance to compete on a level playing field, but still left their mark on the tournament.

If you accused the State College American Little League all-star team of being born in a barn, they would probably take it as a compliment.

State College had high expectations entering the 2001 international tournament. The league was two years removed from a victory in the 1999 state championship game in the 9-10 year old division, and brought several key players back from a team that finished as the Pennsylvania runner-up in the 11-12 year old age bracket in 2000.

As the 2001 international tournament unfolded, State College American left no doubt that it was the premier team in Pennsylvania, outscoring twelve opponents by a 127-17 margin. In its final state tournament games, State College opened up leads of 15-1 and 16-0 in the first two innings against the state's eventual second- and third-place finishers before cruising to mercy rule-shortened victories.

The seeds of the team's success were planted in Tom Mincemoyer's barn.

"We knew when we won some 9-year old tournaments that we had the making of a good team and needed to get the pieces of the puzzle together," said State College manager Tom Hart.

Mincemoyer's barn provided a dedicated indoor practice space, and a group of State College parents invested in a pitching machine. Nine players made the commitment, hitting upwards of 150 balls each day under the tutelage of Hart and other parents. Gradually, the effort began to pay off.

"It had to be a long work in progress," said Larry Suhey, the father of State College player Doug Suhey. "We knew, with time invested, it could be accomplished and it was going to take time. It wasn't something that was going to happen over night."

"By the end of that summer we were beating a lot of 10-year old 'A' teams," recalled Hart.

As the players improved, they also began to gel as a team.

"You have 12 players and only nine can start," explained Hart. "So it was important for the kids to be willing to accept certain roles. Luckily for us, we have kids . . . that would probably start on a lot of teams that are (competing in the regional) who have willingly accepted their roles for the good of the team."

One role that none of the State College players filled was team captain. That honor was reserved for Patrick Moore.

Moore was born with Down's syndrome and without an esophagus. At the age of fifteen, he had already undergone fourteen major operations. Moore was also a big baseball fan, and was cheering avidly for State College when Hart's wife Cindy noticed how intently he was following the action at one of the team's games in 2000.

"My wife told me he never moved, and how into the game he was," recalled Hart. "We made him honorary captain.

"He's been nothing but an inspiration to the kids," said Hart. "He loves baseball and he's so into the game and the team. He loves to help so much."

Soon Moore, dressed in a red and blue State College uniform adorned with a captain's "C", joined the team in the dugout. He became a major source of inspiration for State College, leading the team cheers and giving the squad its pep talk before each game. The team responded to Moore, repeatedly fulfilling one of his dreams by carrying him off the field after each team victory.

"He was with us throughout the regular season and up through the state championships," Hart said. "He's grown very close with the team and we wouldn't know what to do without him."

The State College American Little League all-star team: Ken Farnsworth, Joe Gazza, Shane Gray, Leon Harner, Brook Hart, Philip Horne, Andrew Kerr, Tyler Mincemoyer, Brendon Pifer, Doug Suhey, Travis Tice, and Chad White. Manager: Tom Hart. Coaches: Tom Mincemoyer and Mike White.

Council Rock Northampton Little League spent over four years preparing to host the Pennsylvania state tournament. The league invested over $50,000 in field improvements, adding lights, a press box and a sprinkler system, and replacing the dugout, backstop, infield and outfield at the Northampton Civic Center.

"The big thing people seem to notice is how green the grass is,'' said Northampton Little League President Charlie Fean.

By contrast, the first thing that most spectators at the District of Columbia championship game noticed was the stolen car, engulfed in flames, that sat parked on the infield at the Fort Lincoln Baseball Complex's main field.

The Capitol City Little League all-star team shrugged off the spectacle, and cruised past Northwest Washington Little League 6-0 to pocket the league's eleventh consecutive D.C. title.

The league's longstanding success has led to unique challenges. Forfeits are not uncommon in the District's championship tournament, and Capitol City typically picks up at least one win in district tournament play because an opponent fails to show up for a game. 2001 was no exception, and Capitol City played only three games on the field prior to the region tournament. Capitol City won those games by a combined 27-2 margin.

Despite the limited opportunity to gain on-the-field experience, Capitol City usually holds its own at Bristol. In 1999, Capitol City reached the Eastern Region semifinals before falling to eventual U.S. runner-up Toms River East American (New Jersey) Little League in extra innings. The next year, Capitol City won a pair of games at the region tournament, and advanced to the quarterfinal round.

The 2001 squad dropped all four games in Bristol, but a number of Capitol City players had strong showings. Ian Horkley threw a two-hitter against Easton, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning before allowing an unearned run in a 1-0 loss. Ian Rose finished the tournament 5-for-10 at the plate, and Brice Plebani struck out nine and allowed only an unearned run in three innings of work against a powerful State College lineup.

Capitol City's offense remained grounded for much of the region tournament, as the club managed only five runs in four games. The team, however, was not: after a well-placed phone call to high level airline executive who once played in the Little League World Series, Capitol City was able to fly to Bristol via Hartford's Bradley Airport, rather than endure a long, multi-state bus ride.

When they arrived at the A. Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center, Capitol City was happy to find Breen Field to be a vehicle-free diamond.

The Capitol City Little League all-star team: Louis Arenstein, Will Comiskey, Matt Devaney, Justin Donaldson, Alex Guerra, Alex Hagan, Ian Horkley, Ryan Lowe, Brice Plebani, Sam Ribnick, Ian Rose, Ben Sestanovich, Alex Spiliotes, and Paul Young. Manager: Dr. Michael Domanski. Coaches: John Devaney and Graham Horkley.

While advancing to the region tournament is seemingly an annual event for Capitol City, Delaware's Midway Little League waited thirty-one years to win a state championship in the major baseball division.

The New Castle County league was chartered in 1965, and Jack Agnew has been there from the beginning, tending the field and volunteering his time as a coach year after year.

It seemed fitting that Agnew was at the helm, on the field he helped manicure, as Midway defeated Camden-Wyoming 9-5 to win the Delaware state championship.

"(This is) certainly a momentous occasion for us," remarked John Tirrell, the league's executive vice president and a Midway volunteer since 1965. "A great experience, a good bunch of kids with the greatest manager that Midway's had."

"You always have that dream of going to the big one," said an elated Agnew after his team claimed the title. "And even if we don't go any further, you're winning the state of Delaware. What can I tell you?"

Matt Harden helped bring the title home, launching a three-run homer in the third inning and striking out seven while holding off a last-ditch Camden-Wyoming rally in the sixth inning. Earlier in the tournament, Harden had thrown a six-hit shutout as Midway blanked Camden-Wyoming 6-0. Camden-Wyoming earned a rematch, and then made Midway's 31-year wait one night longer by forcing the tournament to an 'if' game with a 2-1 extra inning win.

Adam Cowen was 3-for-4 in the finale, and Billy Crowe had a pair of hits and scored twice. Midway converted five walks, a hit batter, and two doubles into a five run first inning rally before holding on in the late innings for the win.

The Midway Little League all-star team: Adam Cowen, Brandon Crist, Billy Crowe, Jonathan Domenici, Matt Harden, Evan Lewis, Mitch McCallister, Eric McGivney, Richard O'Donald, Tommy Ogden, Kenny Wilkins, and Evan Zechman. Manager: Jack Agnew. Coaches: Steve Harden and Jim Walnock.

Like Midway, Maryland's Easton Little League had to wait an extra night before winning its state championship.

Easton reached the championship of the Maryland tournament with an unbeaten record, only to lose to a streaking Hughesville Little League club in a 7-2 decision that forced a final game. Hughesville carried a five game winning streak into the 'if' game following its opening round loss, and Easton was without top pitcher Sam Kemp, who was the pitcher of record in the teams' first meeting.

Easton had been in this situation before, and manager Donnie Foster liked his team's chances.

"They (Hughesville) are the best team we've faced," said Foster.

"But South Caroline beat us the first game (of the District 6 championship series), and we came back and beat them the second game."

Easton bounced back from their loss, defeating Hughesville 14-5 to win the state championship on their home field. The win gave Easton its first state title since 1982, when the Eastern Shore-based league eventually reached the Little League World Series.

A return to South Williamsport seemed possible based on Easton's performance in the Mid-Atlantic Region tournament. Kemp set the tone in the tournament's opening game, throwing a no-hitter as Easton edged Capitol City 1-0. Kemp, who struck out ten, and Capitol City's Horkley both carried no-hitters into the sixth, when Easton's Jordan Ball scored the game's only run.

Two days later, Richie Long hit a three-run homer and threw a six-hit complete game as Easton defeated Rolando Paulino 5-1. Easton's victory surprised many tournament observers.

"Everyone else said it didn't look good for Easton, but that is not what I said," said Foster. "I told my kids nobody was giving us a chance, but I thought we could beat them."

Foster's faith was justified, as his team led from wire-to-wire in the victory. Easton then edged State College American 5-4, and downed Midway 5-3 to finish pool competition with an unbeaten record and advance to the semifinal round as the tournament's top seed.

The Easton Little League all-star team: Jordan Ball, Jacob Brach, Ryan Brice, Marcus Felton, Matt Ford, Michael Foster, John Hedl, Jordan Kelley, Sam Kemp, Richie Long, Peter Lubin, Ian McPherson, Patrick Retallack, and Craig Tatum. Manager: Don Foster. Coaches: Steve Ford and Dale Foxwell.

Like State College American, Randolph West Little League brought high hopes into the 2001 international tournament. Randolph had won sixteen of seventeen games to reach the New Jersey state championship game in the 9-10 year old division in 1999, only to lose twice and finish as the state runner-up. In the deciding game, Randolph held a 6-5 edge in the seventh inning before the lead slipped away.

Randolph knew that a repeat in 2001 wasn't a given -- the team had reached the 9-10 year old state title when the town had a single Little League charter. Two years later, Randolph's population base had grown, and the league split into East and West charters.

Randolph West, which had many of the state tournament veterans on its roster, was unfazed. The team won nine consecutive games in the District 1 tournament, sweeping five pool opponents and then defeating four more teams in the double-elimination district finals. Randolph averaged over nine runs per game, outscoring its district opponents by an 85-18 margin while claiming the town's fourth district title in six years.

The team then made quick work of its Section 1 opponents, including a pair of wins over defending state champion Pequannock that propelled Randolph West into the state tournament.

"We feel because our district is so tough, that helped to make us a better team," said Randolph West manager Dennis Anderson. "We were hitting our stride when the sectional tournament began because of all the games we had to play in the district tournament."

At the state tournament, though, Randolph stumbled in their opener. Bellville American jumped to a 6-2 lead, and held on despite a three-run Randolph rally in the final inning. Randolph regrouped, winning four consecutive games to emerge out of the elimination bracket as the state champion. The wins included a 9-7 decision over Bellville in a game where Randolph trailed 5-0 before coming to bat.

Randolph closed the tournament by outlasting perennial South Jersey contender South Vineland Little League in a wild 11-10 state championship game that involved three lead changes and two ties. The team's resiliency was apparent even at the region tournament.

"When you play a team like this you have to keep your head in the game, as a player, as a coach, 100 percent committed or else they are going to win the game," said Hart, the State College manager.

Hart also gave Randolph high marks for its attitude.

"What a class group," he said. "After (State College eliminated Randolph in the semifinal round), the Randolph parents congratulated us and wished us well. The coaches wished us well. With some teams, the more competitive it gets, you don’t always see the good side of people.

"They did the town of Randolph proud."

The Randolph West Little League all-star team: D.J. Anderson, Matt Blake, Dan Bresky, Justin Freedman, Robert Kral, Kyle Krannich, D.J. LoPresti, Chris Mastrangelo, Ricky Roma, Andrew Somberg, L.J. Travaglia, Richard Veith, and Mark Zaziski. Manager: Dennis Anderson. Coaches: Larry Travaglia and Greg Krannich.