Bayonne already cemented themselves in New Jersey baseball lore after clinching a Little League World Series berth last week. On Wednesday, they proved that their presence is no fluke.
How they won the game over Bridgewater, Massachusetts is an even cooler story.
Undefeated Season Leads to LLWS Berth
Bayonne cruised to the annual South Williamsport, Pennsylvania tournament off the back of a 14-game win streak, along with an undefeated season.
The elite crew of 10- to 12-year-old ballplayers won both the State and Metro Region championships this year—the latter being their ticket to the LLWS, the first in Bayonne history.
Wednesday night’s game against Bridgewater, Massachusetts—champions of the New England Region—was a low scorer. Bayonne capitalized early on a wild pitch, but Bridgewater evened the score off a solo homerun in the third. The game remained tied at 1-1 after that. That was until Mason Rincon stepped up to bat in the bottom of the sixth—the final inning before extras in little league play.
Rincon then did something every little leaguer dreams of. He saw his pitch, and knocked one over the center field wall, winning the ballgame for Bayonne in walk-off fashion.
“It’s special, definitely,” Rincon told reporters following the game. “My first-ever walk-off home run and for it to be on this stage, it’s awesome. To feel the atmosphere of the stadium and feel everybody chanting my name… it just felt amazing.”
Bayonne fans of all stripes traveled to Pennsylvania to support the team. “We have a lot of faith in these kids, and these kids have grown together, and they fight for each other every step of the way,” Bayonne Little League vice president Joseph Van Horn said, according to CBS News. “They will not be beaten.”
Grandmother Rosa Chalen added a simple message of support: “Viva Bayonne.”
Bayonne will now play West Chester, PA on Friday, which represents the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Their mantra for the tournament encapsulates the team’s energy and competitive spirit: “Bayonne vs. Everybody.”
Put it on a shirt.
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
