Sixteen girls have played in the Little League World Series. Kayla Roncin, the 12-year-old slugger from Toms River, N.J., won’t be No. 17.
Roncin’s dream fell two wins short when she grounded out to second base with two outs and the tying and go-ahead runs aboard in Toms River’s 4-3 loss to Newark (Del.) National Little League on Friday in the Mid-Atlantic Regional semifinals in Bristol, Conn.
“She can hold her head high the rest of her life,” said Ray Roncin, her father and Toms River assistant coach. “She batted .500, she played great defense at first base. She put the ball in play at the end. What else can you do? She gave it 110 percent.”
Afterward, Ray Roncin said his daughter was disappointed and emotionally drained. Roncin more than held her own among the boys in Bristol.
She finished the tournament 4-for-8 with two RBIs and three runs scored. She also made a huge defensive play in the sixth inning, saving two runs.
“As a father and coach, I’m proud of her,” Ray Roncin said.
It was a memorable few weeks for the central New Jersey Little League team, which won a dramatic state championship game over Ocean City/Upper Township, led by Roncin, who blasted a two-run home run and recorded the final out on the mound with Toms River up a run and the bases loaded.
She drew kudos nationwide along the way, and was featured on the MLB Network and local television.
“I don’t think she knows what’s in store for her when she gets back to Toms River,” Ray Roncin said. “She’s put herself on the map because of her kindness, her courage, her intensity on the field. A lot of baseball people, guys who didn’t think she could do it, were convinced.”
Toms River fell behind again on Friday — a summer-long bugaboo — managing just one hit, courtesy of Roncin, over the first four innings against Newark National ace Jack Hardcastle.
But Toms River came storming back in the sixth — another summer-long habit — rallying for three runs, and had runners on first and second when Roncin chopped a two-hopper to second base.
Second baseman Brett Callahan tagged out Jason Kapp running to second, ending Toms River’s run two wins shy of the World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
Toms River went 4-0 in pool play to earn the top seed and defeated Newark National 11-10 on Wednesday, rallying for two runs in its last at-bat. But Friday afternoon, the team was unable to repeat that feat.
One area team will be playing this weekend for a spot in the Little League World Series, as Fairfield (Conn.) American Little League will meet Cumberland (R.I.) American Little League in the New England Regional final Saturday at 7 p.m. in Bristol.
The game will be shown on ESPN.