Latest news with #LittleLeagueWorldSeries

6 hours ago
- Sport
New Jersey Little Leaguer suspended for bat flip, a celebration gov body promotes
A 12-year-old Little Leaguer is 'distraught' at the prospect of missing his team's first state tournament game because he was suspended for flipping his bat after hitting a game-winning home run — a type of celebration Little League Baseball promotes on its social media accounts. 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.


Al Arabiya
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
New jersey little leaguer suspended for bat flip, a celebration governing body promotes
A 12-year-old Little Leaguer is distraught at the prospect of missing his team's first state tournament game because he was suspended for flipping his bat after hitting a game-winning home run – a type of celebration Little League Baseball promotes on its social media accounts. 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.


Fox Sports
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
New Jersey Little Leaguer suspended for bat flip, a celebration governing body promotes
Associated Press A 12-year-old Little Leaguer is 'distraught' at the prospect of missing his team's first state tournament game because he was suspended for flipping his bat after hitting a game-winning home run — a type of celebration Little League Baseball promotes on its social media accounts. 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: recommended Item 1 of 3
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
New Jersey Little Leaguer suspended for bat flip, a celebration governing body promotes
A 12-year-old Little Leaguer is 'distraught' at the prospect of missing his team's first state tournament game because he was suspended for flipping his bat after hitting a game-winning home run — a type of celebration Little League Baseball promotes on its social media accounts. 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: Mark Pratt, The Associated Press


Time of India
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
12-year-old suspended for bat flip celebration in Little League Baseball
A 12-year-old New Jersey Little Leaguer , Marco Rocco , has been suspended from his team's upcoming state tournament game after being ejected for a celebratory bat flip despite Little League Baseball frequently showcasing such moments on its social media platforms. Marco, playing for Haddonfield , hit a dramatic two-run homer in the sixth inning of the sectional final on July 16. After tossing his bat into the air in celebration, he was initially ruled out. Though the play was reversed and the runs counted, Marco was ejected and handed a one-game suspension for what officials called 'unsportsmanlike' conduct and 'horseplay'. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Project Management Data Science Data Analytics Others Public Policy Operations Management Cybersecurity Design Thinking Technology MCA Artificial Intelligence Leadership others Product Management healthcare Finance CXO PGDM MBA Digital Marketing Data Science Healthcare Management Degree Skills you'll gain: Project Planning & Governance Agile Software Development Practices Project Management Tools & Software Techniques Scrum Framework Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Programme in IT Project Management Starts on Jun 20, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management Project Planning & Risk Analysis Strategic Project/Portfolio Selection Adaptive & Agile Project Management Duration: 6 Months IIT Delhi Certificate Programme in Project Management Starts on May 30, 2024 Get Details — darrenrovell (@darrenrovell) by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Rates Undo His father, Joe Rocco, has since filed for an emergency court order in Gloucester County, hoping to overturn the suspension in time for Thursday's state tournament opener. "We're trying to cope with it," Joe told The Philadelphia Inquirer. "I've tried to teach some life lessons from this. He keeps asking me, 'Dad, I don't understand what rule I broke. I don't understand, if I'm watching this on TV and there's never any penalty associated with it, why wasn't I able to do it?' Live Events "My answer to him is, 'Marco, sometimes life isn't fair. This is your first lesson at 12 years old, and dad's going to fight for you, whether we win or lose, is not important. But just understand that life isn't fair, and you have to sometimes deal with that the best way that you can.'" Adding to the confusion, the complaint notes Marco had flipped his bat in earlier games without issue. Joe labeled the punishment hypocritical, pointing out that Little League itself promotes similar celebrations online. A hearing is set for Thursday afternoon, just hours before Marco's team takes the field. A win at the state level would send them to the regionals - just one step away from the Little League World Series .