The name Mason Rincon is making rounds around the world as the shortstop hit a walk off home run in the bottom of the sixth Wednesday night, sending Bayonne Central Little League to the second round of the Little League World Series. Representing the Metro Region, they took down New England’s and Bridgewater, Massachusetts’ Bridgewater Joe Lazaro Little League.
The ball keeps rolling as the ball club from Hudson county moves on in the prestigious youth baseball tournament. After defeating Connecticut 8-6 last Friday night to win the Metro, they were eager for some more.
You knew this team was hungry right out of the gates. They brought the pressure in the bottom of the first, putting MA in a tough position with a man on second and third. After an out, the ball got past the catcher and Bayonne scored with ease. It was 1-0 very early.
They picked up where they left off in the bottom of the second, threatening to score more runs. They would’ve done just that on a Dex Zimmerman base hit into left field, bringing in the runner Connor Oliva. However it was ruled that Oliva led off second base too early and he was sent back to third. They’d strikeout the next at bat and what would’ve been a run and counting turned to zero.
The missed chance stung even more as the very next inning Anthony Sullivan hit one over the right field wall. It turned to a brand new ball game as it was now 1-1.
While the bats stayed consistent, neither side could finish. Throughout the rest of the game there’d be multiple chances and close calls as they’d get runners in scoring position, but a strikeout or a fielded play cut it short.
Then came the famous at-bat. Bayonne was able to hold off in the top of the sixth, giving them three final outs to either win it or send it to extra innings. First batter up? Mason Rincon. Earlier in the game he had a strikeout, it was the first time he’d done that since July 17.
On a 1-1 count, Jude DeSimone threw a pitch. The ball ricocheted off the aluminum bat, soaring into the night like a shooting star. The game was over and the fairytale story was on. After winning the state championship for the first time in 75 years, beating Connecticut in the regionals to represent the Mid-Atlantic, to now winning the opener, Bayonne was headed to the first round, thanks to Mason Rincon.
It was a tough, gritty, performance that symbolized who the city of Bayonne is. They’ll look to add onto the trilogy tomorrow night when they face East-Side Little League, who’s representing the mid-east out of West Chester, PA.
