WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. What had flowed for Mason Rincon during Bayonne’s 15-game win streak went awry in the first inning as he walked the first two batters.
Bayonne fell, 6-0, as Johnson Jr. “The kid had a great changeup, a great curveball today,” Bayonne manager Justin Smith said.
It was Bayonne’s first loss in the Little League World Series, and the Hudson County squad will now have to negotiate the elimination bracket starting on Tuesday night against the winner of Monday’s game between the Southwest and Great Lakes.
“We’re not done,” Smith said. “We just have to play more games. A lot to work on, but we are in a good spot.” Rincon struggled to find any rhythm against the Midwest.
After falling behind the next batter, 2-1, Rincon motioned to Bayonne’s dugout, and his father, Jaime, an assistant coach, visited the mound.
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, who confounded Bayonne’s batters all game on the mound, drove in another run in the third inning and punctuated his performance with a three-run homer in the top of the sixth.
“Hats off to him.”
He walked the first batter on nine pitches, with several of those going to the backstop. Johnson Jr. then hit a ball deep down the left field line that landed in foul territory but over the fence. Rincon walked him, too.
By the time Bayonne recorded the third out, Rincon had thrown 31 pitches. His maximum for the day was 85. He lasted into the fourth inning when he was relieved by shortstop Gabe Garcia Jr.
