Bayonne, New Jersey, punched its ticket to its first Little League World Series after a thrilling comeback win over Darien, Connecticut, in the Metro Region Championship game at the Giamatti Little League Center in Bristol, CT, on Friday.
Bayonne rallied from 6-4 down in the fifth inning, scoring four runs, then struck out Darien’s hitters in the top of the sixth to secure its spot in Williamsport. A highlight of the game was Darien intentionally walking Bayonne’s best batter, Mason Rincon, three times.
Fans quickly reacted, with many lashing out at the Darien coach.
“The CT coach intentionally walking NJs best player every time he came up to bat is insane. Deserved to lose because of that. You’re scared of a kid,” one fan commented.
Bayonne became the first team from New Jersey to advance to the LLWS since Toms River East in 2021. They also became the first team from Hudson County to do so since West New York American.
New Jersey’s Owen Feliz Came Up Clutch During the Metro Region Championship Final
Connecticut took a 4-0 lead in the first inning and extended it to 6-2 by the end of the third, asserting complete control of the game. Bayonne seemed done and dusted, but Owen Feliz came through in clutch moments with two important hits, driving in two runs both times.
Feliz finished the game with five RBIs and orchestrated a four-run comeback as Bayonne sealed an emphatic 8-6 win. Mason Rincon was the other star for Bayonne despite not being given a chance to hit. He gave up zero runs and struck out eight batters, closing out the game for the visitors.
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