Toms River LL Opens Region Tournament with 12-2 Win

By Karen Wall
karen.wall@patch.com

The Toms River Little League All-Stars scored nine runs in the third inning and opened their Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament campaign with a 12-2 four-inning victory over Northwest Washington Little League on Saturday in Bristol, Conn.

Kayla Roncin hit a two-run double, driving in Jon Giordano and Connor Cino for the eventual winning runs, and Giordano capped the inning with a grand slam for Toms River, according to the Game Changer report, courtesy of the Little League Eastern Regional website.

Toms River faces Colonie Little League of New York at 5 p.m. Sunday in its second game.

Toms River fell behind 2-0 in the first inning, committing a couple of defensive errors that allowed Northwest Washington to push across a couple of runs. But the New Jersey champions got a run back in the top of the second. Phil Antoniotti singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch, then scored on a single by Jason Kapp.

In the top of the third Toms River blew the game open. With two outs, Roncin roped a 1-2 pitch to center, driving in Giordano and Cino. Antoniotti singled and Roncin scored on a wild pitch, and Antoniotti scored on a single by Kapp. Toms River then loaded the bases. Tyler Avallone (running for Kapp), advanced to third as the Northwest Washington pitcher hit both Joe Schifilliti and Alex Civitello with pitches, then scored when Vinny Rose walked. Giordano then drove a 1-2 pitch over the fence in left-center for a grand slam and a 10-2 lead.

Toms River added two more runs in the top of the fourth, as Roncin reached on an error and scored on a wild pitch, and Antoniotti scored on a walk to Civitello.

Antoniotti started and struck out two; Nick DeRose struck out two pitching in the third inning, and Christian Wood closed out the game with two strikeouts in the fourth inning.

Colonie Little League won its first game, 6-3, over Northwest Washington.