A Monmouth County Little League team has been disqualified from the Little League World Series all because of one missing document.

The team says that while they agree that rules are rules, it shouldn’t have happened like this.

“We had a great run, the boys these past three years. This isn’t a good way to end,” says pitcher and first baseman Nick Gandolfo.

Gandolfo, 16, is part of the Tinton Falls Senior Little League team. The team has players from Tinton Falls and Eatontown. But Gandolfo lives in Shrewsbury – a town that does not have its own Senior Little League team.

The team’s certification to play in the Little League World Series was approved by a Little League International administrator, even with Gandolfo on the team. But manager Pat Alfano received a call on Tuesday during the team’s sections game.

“I got a phone call in the middle of the first inning saying from the person, ‘I don’t think [Gandolfo is] fine. I think you have the regular form. You need another form to get filled out.’ So I said, ‘If that’s the truth, let me get him off the field,’” Alfano says.top

When Alfano called Little League International, he found that Gandolfo was not eligible to play.

A spokesperson for Little League International says in a statement, "As a result of this determination, the Tournament Committee is forfeiting the last game played and the team cannot participate within any further 2022 International Tournament games. The decision of the Little League International Tournament Committee is final and binding."

Gandolfo says that the team should not have to suffer just because of him.

“Just take me out. Have the team play. I’ll be able to watch on the side and watch my boys have fun,” he says.

"It's not like we cheated and kept him in the game, you know? I thought I did the right thing and it and it really turns out this time when the right thing paid off to be the wrong thing,” says Alfano.

He says that, while this isn't really anyone’s fault, he thinks future teams should know about all the paperwork in advance.

“I’m like, if they make an exception for us, they’re going to open up, I guess a can of worms for everybody else,” says assistant coach Lou Milevo.

“If this is the worst thing that ever happened to these guys, life will be good for all of them,” says Alfano.

The team will have one last hurrah together at the Jersey Shore Blue Claws game soon.