'Distraught' Little Leaguer suspended for bat flip, a celebration the governing body promotes
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Marco Rocco of Haddonfield, New Jersey tossed his bat in the air on July 16 after his sixth-inning, two-run homer in the final of the sectional tournament, his father, Joe Rocco told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
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At first, he was called out, but on appeal the runs counted, Marco was ejected and suspended for a game over what the family was told were actions deemed 'unsportsmanlike' and 'horseplay.'
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Now, his family has gone to court to seek an emergency temporary restraining order that will allow him to play in the New Jersey state tournament that starts on Thursday.
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'All we're asking for is that the suspension be lifted so he can play in the game,' Joe Rocco said.
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The sides are scheduled to make their arguments before a judge in Gloucester County Chancery Division on Thursday afternoon, just hours before the game. The winner of the state tournament advances to the regionals, where they have a chance to move on to the Little League World Series.
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What makes the ejection and suspension so confounding is that Little League Baseball posts videos of bat-flip celebrations on social media that do not result in punishment.
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In fact, Marco has tossed his bat in celebration in prior tournament games without warnings or punishment, according to the court complaint.
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Joe Rocco called that hypocritical.
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'They promote bat flips. The kids see major leaguers doing it. It's part of the game. He was just emulating what he saw,' he said.
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The incident left his son 'distraught.'
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'He was so confused,' the father said. 'He didn't understand what was going on. On the car ride home he was saying 'How can that be against the rules? If I knew I was breaking the rules I never would have done it.''
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