Metro Regional final provided chance for Bayonne to show its toughness
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Everything seemingly came so easy. Bayonne Little League overpowered 13 straight opponents and a Metro Region championship game felt like it would be more coronation than competition.
But that was when the Bayonne, New Jersey team found itself in its toughest fight all year. As dominant as it has been this summer, Bayonne really showcased the team it is by winning that fight and taking that crown.
Twice down by four runs, Bayonne thundered back and defeated Darien, Connecticut, 8-6, capturing the championship and earning its first Little League World Series berth. Bayonne long ago proved how good it was, outscoring 12 straight opponents, 126-26, while mercy-ruling six. Along the way, Bayonne earned the league its first state title in 75 years.
That Metro final provided the opportunity for Bayonne to show how tough it is. And like the blue-collar town itself, this Bayonne team is mighty rugged and resilient. It stayed that way at the Series with Mason Rincon hitting a walk-off home run in a 2-1 win against Massachusetts and Chase Klimkowski pitching a gem in a 3-1 win against Pennsylvania.
"It feels great for the kids. The kids worked their butts of (Friday)," Bayonne manager Justin Smith said following the Pennsylvania win. "They executed pitching; executed defense; our at-bats were great. The kids deserve every second of this right here."
"Now they know and everybody knows what the team make-up is," Bayonne Little League president Roger Malone said. "That's always the question. What will they be like when they get down? They had never been punched in the face. You always have those questions; that's baseball. They showed the world that they can fight back and who they are."
Bayonne has continued displaying that at the Series, fighting on no matter the situation. Teams learn a lot about themselves through how they handle adversity and Bayonne learned it can thrive in the face of harsh pressure.
This was the biggest game the players had competed in; being broadcast by ESPN and with former Major Leaguer Todd Frazier on the broadcast. Both teams brought busloads of fans to Bristol, Connecticut and it had the vibe of a pro baseball playoff game instead of a battle between 12-year-olds.
Despite being down 4-0 before batting and 6-2 in the fourth inning, Bayonne stayed cool under the spotlight's harsh glare as millions watching on television looked on. This was its moment and Bayonne owned it, scoring six runs in its final two at-bats before Mason Rincon closed it out an inning later.
The Series seemed like a far-fetched dream for so long at Bayonne. It became reality because these gifted players also double as fighters.
"They never doubted themselves. They knew if they stuck to the program; stuck to their approach we could keep scoring runs and stay within striking distance and find a way," Malone said. "The stadium was packed; it's on ESPN, Todd Frazier walks into the announcer's booth ... That's a lot going on for 12-year-old kids. They all stepped up and kept working and kept fighting."
Of all the games it played this summer, that Metro Final may have also best illustrated how Bayonne became the state and region's best team. Hard-working, tenacious players proved they are indeed a true team. Connecticut may have thought otherwise, intentionally walking Rincon three times.
Twice, Owen Feliz made that strategy backfire in a huge way. He first hit a two-run first inning double before following with the biggest hit in league history, walloping a go-ahead, three-run double off the left-center field wall in the fifth inning.
Bayonne has written a historic story but at the heart of it is balance and the ability to rally around each other. Work around one player and another one so often has been there to inflict damage whether at the plate, on the field or the mound.
It often had not had to show those attributes because Bayonne steamrolled so many teams entering that final. At the perfect time, however, Bayonne showed the world that this a team in every sense of the world.
Everything Bayonne displayed in that game is what Malone likes most about this team. These were qualities he and others in the league recognized when many current players started competing in Little League. But success at eight and nine never dictates what will happen at 12.
More important than the talent is what so many volunteers and families saw creating the success. That talent was high, but the work ethic was even better. The two joined forces and the result is a remarkable run to South Williamsport. It also has turned these 12-year-olds into role models who could usher in a new storied era in Bayonne Little League baseball.
"We've been watching these kids steadily improve. You just saw them putting the work and dedication in," Malone said. "It really paid off, and now we're at the Little League World Series but it started younger. We're pressing on the younger kids to watch this team. This is what it took. It's not coming to one practice and two games a year. They put the time and work in and they are giving good learning lessons to these younger kids."
That includes off the field as well. Bayonne has become the King of New Jersey and the Metro Region but they still act the same as they did before they becoming one of the world's best teams. No matter the stop, Bayonne has remained humble and hungry along its journey to its ultimate destination.
That attitude manifested an epic win in Bayonne history and has drawn in legions of fans who make every game feel like it's back at Bayonne's home field.
They proved how tough they are when they won the Metro championship. But at their core, these Bayonne players who have captured the biggest prize in its city's Little League history are gentle giants.
"These kids never let the celebrity status get to their heads. It's been very nice seeing that they could stay that way," Malone said. "The coaches do a great job keeping them focused. They had three days before that (Metro Final) and we were unsure how focused they would be, but they didn't disappoint. They're great kids and everybody has enjoyed this."