POLICE TO BEEF UP PRESENCE AFTER LITTLE LEAGUE DISRUPTIONS

Expect a greater police presence at tonight's Northern New Jersey Babe Ruth 13U Division State Championship game at Cameron Field in South Orange after last night's semi-finals produced at least two incidents involving Maplewood players.

As noted earlier, last night's second game, between South Orange-Maplewood and Bayonne, included a disruption when a Bayonne player was called out and Bayonne fans responded with screaming and berating of the umpire.

Now word comes that after the game, in a nearby playground, several Maplewood youngsters who had attended the game were "bullied" by an older Bayonne teen, drawing even more police.

South Orange Police Capt. Kyle Kroll said that incident resulted in no arrests or other further investigation. But he did indicate police would be on the scene for tonight's championship game, between Bayonne and Basking Ridge, just in case.

"We will have a greater presence," he said.