New Jersey Little Leaguer suspended for bat flip, a celebration governing body promotes
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.
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.'
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.
'All we're asking for is that the suspension be lifted so he can play in the game,' Joe Rocco said.
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.
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.
In fact, Marco has tossed his bat in celebration in prior tournament games without warnings or punishment, according to the court complaint.
Joe Rocco called that hypocritical.
'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.
The incident left his son 'distraught.'
'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.''
A message seeking comment was left with Little League's East Region headquarters after business hours on Wednesday night.
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
Mark Pratt, The Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
St. James-Smithtown hoping to ride wave of comeback confidence to Little League World Series
It's a summer to remember for the boys of St. James-Smithtown. The bold group of 12-year-olds captured their Little League's first state title and are knocking on the doorstep of the Little League World Series — with only the champs of New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island standing in their way. 'Just being able to be with all these guys, they're so fun — and making it this far, it's just been a crazy experience for me,' pitcher Gary Rocco told The Post ahead of the upcoming regional tournament in Bristol, Conn., whose winner goes to the big show. The team's journey to their next set of big games, which starts Saturday against Rhode Island's Burrillville Little League at 7 p.m., has been nothing short of drama. The Bulls of St. James-Smithtown only reached the New York State Championship after losing to archrival West Sayville — a team they came back to beat twice. 6 The St. James-Smithtown Little League team poses for a photo after recently winning the New York State title and is now playing for a chance to go to Williamsport. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post It was only an uphill battle from there, as the formidable South Shore Little League of Staten Island crushed the Bulls 8-2 in pool play for the state title. St. James-Smithtown rose from the canvas and gave the NYC team a 7-2 shellacking — coming back from being down 2-0 — in the finals. 'I feel like we're more prepared now, we have tougher teams now,' left fielder and first baseman Chase Saxon said. Bull market Escaping the perils of elimination thus far has put these boys on top of the world with a fever pitch of energy and excitement they want to ride into Williamsport, Penn. 'It just tells me if we're down a lot, then we still have confidence in our team,' said outfielder James Santelli. Fellow outfielder Eric Hanson echoed the sentiment that's become the Bulls' never-say-die mantra. 'Once you get a big comeback, your confidence is up for every single game,' he said. 6 Lucas Kostas pitches during a St. James-Smithtown Little League practice in St. James, N.Y. on July 28, 2025. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post 'So I feel like moving forward, we're going to be very confident.' Ask fellow pitcher and DH Jeremy Katz — New York's home run derby champion with an .870 average — and he'll say that the entire squad is radiating with self-belief. 'Confidence is the difference between me going 0-for-10 and 8-for-10,' he said as shortstop Andrew Barbato added, 'I think we have a good chance of winning it all.' 6 Members of the St. James-Smithtown Little League team sit in the dugout during a practice in St. James, N.Y. on Monday, July 28, 2025. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post Boys will be boys The sudden fame and extended season have done little to deter the kids — many of whom have been close for years — from having the best summer vacation of their lives with each other, especially when it comes to team building. At the suggestion of Katz, the group decided to all dye their hair blond as a celebration of making it to the state tournament. Though there were rumblings of buyer's remorse among some players, Katz said, 'I think I'll keep it for a little before I get tired of it,' adding that players' older brothers may join in this week. 6 Manager Scott Santelli during a St. James-Smithtown Little League practice in St. James, N.Y. on July 28, 2025. The team recently won the New York State title and is now playing for a chance to go to Williamsport. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post 6 J.T. Borowski at bat during a St. James-Smithtown Little League practice in St. James, N.Y. on July 28, 2025. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post The inseparable bunch — nearly all on the team are die-hard Yankees fans — also had a chance to walk the warning track at the Stadium in The Bronx this summer as just one of their many memory-making experiences. They have also been known to enjoy pool parties, hotel tag and Wiffle Ball games — the latter has even given outfielder Lucas Kostas more confidence when he tugs on a Bulls jersey, the boy said. One rather unorthodox habit the team has picked up, by being on the road so much, is playing poker — a game at which third baseman Ryan Delgado has rapidly ascended in his skills. They plan to go all in with the card game while staying at on-campus dorms at the regional tournament, with 11 other East Coast teams. 6 Gary Rocco pitches during a St. James-Smithtown Little League practice in St. James, N.Y. on July 28, 2025. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post No matter what the Bulls are doing to keep busy, one thing is clear: They don't want this run to end, nor stop spending every day with their best buddies. 'It's just basically like hanging out with your family,' added Hanson.
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Brooklyn Nets jersey history No. 21 - Travis Outlaw (2010-11)
The Brooklyn Nets have 52 jersey numbers worn by over 600 different players over the course of their history since the franchise was founded in 1967 as a charter member of the American Basketball Association (ABA), when the team was known as the "New Jersey Americans". Since then, that league has been absorbed by the NBA with the team that would later become the New York Nets and New Jersey Nets before settling on the name by which they are known today, bringing their rich player and jersey history with them to the league of today. To commemorate the players who played for the Nets over the decades wearing those 52 different jersey numbers, Nets Wire is covering the entire history of the franchise's jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team. The 22nd of those 52 different numbers is jersey No. 21, which has has had a total of 26 players wear the number in the history of the team. The 17th of those players wearing No. 21 played in the (then) New Jersey (now, Brooklyn) Nets era, forward alum Travis Outlaw. After ending his high school career, Outlaw went straight into the draft, and was was picked up with the 23rd overall selection of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. The Starkville, Mississippi native would play parts of the first seven seasons of his pro career with the Blazers, and also the Los Angeles Clippers before he signed with New Jersey in 2010. His stay with the team would span a single season, coming to an end when he was cut in 2011. During his time suiting up for the Nets, Outlaw wore only jersey No. 21 and put up 9.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Canada Names National Development Team Roster For Summer Series
For the second straight summer, Hockey Canada will lean on youth at the August 13-16 Summer Series against USA with their national development team roster. Canada named a 23-player roster for the three-game series against USA's Collegiate Select roster including 12 members of their national development team roster from last season that won silver at the 2024 Women's Euro Hockey Tour's Six Nations tournament. 'We are excited to return to the international stage with a strong group of athletes who bring both experience and fresh energy to our development team,' said national development team head coach Alison Domenico. 'It is an honour to be back behind the bench, and our staff is eager to continue guiding our talented athletes as they take the next steps in their growth within our program.' Among the returnees to their roster are captain Jocelyn Amos, Tova Henderson, Jordan Baxter, Avi Adam, Claire Murdoch, Hailey MacLeod, Ava Murphy, Ashley Messier, Emma Pais, Madeline Palumbo, Sarah Paul, Sara Swiderski, and Emma Venusio. Adding to their national team experience are a large group of U-18 national team players including Mackenze Alexander, Eloise Caron, Hannah Clark, Piper Grober, Makayla Watson, and Alyssa Regalado, who all played in the NCAA last season. Canada also named five players who will make their NCAA debuts this season including goaltender Rhyah Stewart, and forwards Maxine Cimeroni, Sienna D'Alessandro, Sara Manness, and Stryker Zablocki. Notably absent from their 2025 roster is standout Caitlin Kraemer. The omission likely means Kraemer is either recovering from injury, or will be part of Canada's senior national team centralizations. Eve Gascon was also not named to their roster again as she'll be with the senior national team. Alex Law was the only other player not returning, but she struggled last season with Boston University. From last year's national development team that played in the Women's Euro Hockey Tour, seven players were selected in the 2025 PWHL Draft, including first-round picks Nicole Gosling, Kendall Cooper, and Jenna Buglioni, and second-round picks Anne Cherkowski and Hannah Murphy. Other PWHL picks from Canada's national development team were Sarah Wozniewicz and Maya Labad. USA Hockey Unveils National Festival Roster Providing Sneak Peek At Olympic Hopefuls USA Hockey is bringing together 76 professional and college players for their 2025 National Festival slated for August 3-9 in Lake Placid.
