Respect the Game
Baseball probably has tons of unwritten rules. Don’t bunt to break up a no-hitter. Don’t stand and admire a home run and then slowly stroll around the bases. Don’t steal a base when your team has a big lead.
Breaking these unwritten rules is perceived as disrespectful to your opponent or worse, disrespectful to the game. Violations often result in batters being hit by pitches and possibly even bench-clearing brawls. Or maybe ejections?
On July 16, Marco Rocco, a 12-year-old playing for the Haddonfield Little League team, crushed a sixth-inning, two-run home run against Harrison Township Little League in a New Jersey sectional tournament. After the blast, he flipped his bat high into the air, violating another of baseball’s unwritten norms.
As he crossed home plate, however, he was called out. On appeal, the runs were allowed but Marco was ejected and suspended for a game. According to the umpire, the bat flip constituted “unsportsmanlike” conduct and he was ejected due to a “safety concern.” According to Little Leage International, “tournament rules serve as the guide for any determination regarding conduct, of which falls distinctly on the discretion of the umpire.”
“They wrote us a letter saying there’s a rule that says there’s no horseplay in Little League, and they consider bat flipping horseplay,” Marco’s father, Joe, said. “Little League International openly promotes bat flipping all over their social media accounts, their websites and the broadcasts on TV for the Little League World Series. It’s openly promoted and encouraged,” he explained. “My son watches that and was emulating what he sees. Marco had no idea it was in violation of a potential Little League rule.”
Haddonfield ending up winning the game 8-0 and clinched the Section 4 title. With the win, they moved on to the state championship where on July 24 they faced Elmora, a powerhouse that made it to the Little League World Series in 2019. Only they were going to face them without Rocco due to the suspension.
“He’s played Little League his whole life, and his dream is to make it to the World Series in Williamsport,” Joe, also an assistant coach for the team, explained. “We’re in the state finals and are a couple of steps away. We’re on our way there, and now, they tell him he can’t play.”
According to Joe, because Little League International was “not willing to compromise in any way,” the Roccos headed to court to seek an emergency temporary restraining order allowing Marco to play in the New Jersey state tournament. “All we’re asking for is that the suspension be lifted so he can play in the game,” Joe said.
The Roccos and Little League made their arguments before Judge Robert Malestein in Gloucester County Chancery Division just hours before the game. The Roccos argued that there is a lot on the line, as the winner of the state tournament would advance to the regionals, in Bristol, Connecticut, for a chance to represent the Metro region at the Little League World Series.
Malestein overturned the “draconian” suspension, asserting that the vague rules “can’t be enforced arbitrarily and capriciously.”
“While we continue to follow any orders governed by the court of law, Little League is extremely disappointed that time, energy, and attention were diverted away from our volunteers and communities who are creating positive experiences for all players and families throughout the International Tournament,” Little League said in a statement.
While Rocco won in court, they were eliminated from the tournament. But in his last at-bat, Rocco hit a two-run homer after which he planted his bat calmly near the batter’s box and took his lap around the bases.
Reg P. Wydeven
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