Walk-off home run propels Bayonne, NJ to dramatic LLWS opener win

See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google.

Key points

• Bridgewater's Dominik Mombeleur – additionally known as the "Dominator" – held Bayonne to just four hits in his 3 ¹/₃ innings of work.
• Wednesday's dramatic win continues an impressive run for the Little Leaguers out of Bayonne, N.J.
• But Wednesday, Rincon indicated the ability he possesses on the mound as well.
• He didn't surrender his first hit until the top of the third when Anthony Sullivan hit a solo home run to tie the game for Bridgewater.
• He finished his time on the mound with eight strikeouts and just three walks before Gabe Garcia Jr.

All Bridgewater Little League pitcher Jude DeSimone could do was tip his cap toward Bayonne Little League's Mason Rincon after he hit the game-winning blast to center field in the bottom of the sixth in a 2-1 win for the New Jersey Little Leaguers.

If Bayonne's mantra this tournament is "Bayonne vs. Everyone, " then Rincon personified it as he threw 4 ¹/₃ innings of two-hit ball against Bridgewater (Mass.) before playing the hero in the final inning of the game with the solo blast that would have rivaled the major leaguers numerous of the kids in Williamsport look up to.

Rincon had stepped up to the plate in the sixth with the idea of just getting on base. Instead, he whipped the sizeable contingent of New Jerseyans that produced the trip to Pennsylvania into a frenzy.

"It's special, definitely, " Rincon remarked to journalists concerning the walk-off. "My first-ever walk-off home run and for it to be on this stage, it's awesome. To feel the atmosphere of the stadium and feel everybody chanting my name after as shortly as I hit the ball, it just felt amazing."

Wednesday's dramatic win continues an impressive run for the Little Leaguers out of Bayonne, N.J. This person have won 14 consecutive games and move on to face East Side Little League, based in West Chester, Pa., which represents the Mid-Atlantic region Friday.

In practice, the home run that Rincon hit Wednesday was similar to a blast that the 12-year-old clobbered during the regional tournament earlier this month when Bayonne defeated Port Washington Little League en route to representing the Metro Region in Williamsport.

Pitching to Rincon has been a bit of a no-no for opposing teams this year, with his power on display, and Bayonne coach Justin Smith previously advised opposing teams not to pitch to him.

"They really took it seriously, and they haven't pitched to him until today, so my advice to them is they should pitch to him all the time from now on, " Smith remarked. "That is my new advice."

Notably, the Bayonne starter retired the side so as to start the game and struck out two batters in a row to close out the top of the second. He didn't surrender his first hit until the top of the third when Anthony Sullivan hit a solo home run to tie the game for Bridgewater.

He finished his time on the mound with eight strikeouts and just three walks before Gabe Garcia Jr. Took over for him.

This year's run for Bayonne has been a special one with the Little League making its first appearance in Williamsport, and the team projected a tight game from the onset.

Garcia scored Bayonne's first run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first inning. It proved to be the only run they'd obtain until the bottom of the sixth.

Bridgewater's Dominik Mombeleur – additionally known as the "Dominator" – held Bayonne to just four hits in his 3 ¹/₃ innings of work. It included eight strikeouts. When the Bayonne star struck out and popped out, he was on the hill for both of Rincon's earlier at-bats.

In short, walk-off home run propels Bayonne, NJ to dramatic LLWS opener win is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.