BRISTOL, CONN. — As Toms River National’s Russell Petranto squeezed his glove with Michael Bliss’ pop up, he closed out an impressive run to the Mid-Atlantic Regional title for the Little Leaguers from Toms River.

Petranto’s defensive play finished off Pennsylvania’s Council Rock-Newtown as Toms River National won 8-5 on Monday night.

It marked the fourth time a Little League squad from Toms River won a regional and it marked the 10th time a team from New Jersey will represent a region in the Little League World Series.

Toms River National will play at 11 a.m. Saturday in Williamsport, Pa., in its Little League World Series opener against Great Lakes champion West Side American Little League from Hamilton, Ohio.

Toms River National starting pitcher Jeff Ciervo went five innings, struck out five and walked none, leaving with an 8-4 lead. He also had the go-ahead RBI with his double in the bottom of the second that put Toms River ahead 5-4.

His strong outing was backed by some solid defensive plays in the field.

In the top of the first, left fielder Johnny Lazzaro made a catch against the fence to prevent a potential home run by Pennsylvania’s James Closser. In the top of the fifth, right fielder Billy Lumi made a diving catch to his right on the warning track to take away extra bases from Noah Hartwell, who had smashed a two-run home run to right off Ciervo in the first.

The game was a rematch of each team’s opening game in the regional tournament. Pennsylvania won that game, 10-6, but with much more on the line on Monday night, Toms River avenged that defeat and will go to Williamsport, where the 1998 Toms River East American team came back with the World Series title.

After that loss to Pennsylvania in the opener, Toms River won five straight games to clinch the regional title.

Toms River once again flashed the home run stroke that has powered its summer to Williamsport.

Patrick Marinaccio launched a solo home run to right field to make it 6-4 after four innings and Michael Tiplady hit a two-run home run to left to make it 8-4 after five innings.

Sherlon Christie