MLB

NJ girl helps Toms River win Little League opener

Kayla Roncin, the 12-year-old New Jersey girl playing with the boys, picked up right where she left off in the state tournament.

She hit a two-run double off the wall in center field and scored twice, as Toms River Little League won its Mid-Atlantic Regional pool play opener, 12-2, over Northwest Washington Little League (D.C.) in Bristol, Conn., Saturday night in a mercy-shortened four innings.

Roncin, who drew acclaim after she homered and picked up the final out of the state final on Monday, didn’t start, but was inserted into the game in the second inning. She promptly smoked a double to plate two runs — the go-ahead runs — in Toms River’s nine-run third inning. She later scored on a wild pitch.

Roncin reached on an error in the fourth and scored her second run. Toms River star outfielder/pitcher Jonathan Giordano put the game out of reach with a grand slam and Nick DeRose picked up the win in relief.

Toms River will face Colonie Lake Little League (Albany, N.Y.), which won its opener on Friday over Northwest Washington, Sunday at 5 p.m. in the six-team tournament. After four pool play games, the top four teams move into a single elimination tournament for a spot in the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa.