WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — As Bayonne’s 12-year-old All Stars collected victories by routs and rallies over the last month, the one experience they had yet to share together was defeat.
But that changed Sunday afternoon inside Howard J. Lamade Stadium during a third round game against the Midwest squad from Davenport, Iowa at the Little League World Series.
What had flowed for Bayonne star Mason Rincon during Bayonne’s 15-game win streak went awry in the first inning as he walked the first two batters. The Midwest then used a wild pitch thrown by Rincon, an error by Bayonne second baseman Owen Feliz on a ball that took a tough hop and a single to seize a 2-0 lead.
Thereon, Midwest pitcher Anthony Johnson Jr. confounded Bayonne’s batters with his left-handed his mix of fastballs and off-speed pitches on the mound. At the plate, he drove in another run in the third inning and punctuated his two-way performance with a three-run homer onto the hill in center field in the top of the sixth.
That was the final blow. Bayonne fell, 6-0, as Johnson Jr. struck out 15 and allowed just one hit in 5 2/3 innings.
“The kid had a great changeup, a great curveball today,” Bayonne manager Justin Smith said. “Hats off to him.”
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 regional champions. Bayonne can still reach the U.S. Championship on Saturday, but another loss would send the team home. Moving forward, the schedule is an unforgiving gauntlet. Bayonne will need to win three straight games Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to stay alive.
“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, who had won Bayonne’s opener with a walk-off homer on Wednesday night, struggled to throw strikes early against the Midwest. 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. Both of those runners advanced on a wild pitch to Midwest catcher Kannon Kane, who proceeded to drive in a run on a groundout to first base.
Metro champion Bayonne Little League faces Davenport, Iowa (Midwest) in Game 19 of the Little League Baseball World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., on Sunday, August 23, 2026 Ralph Wilson | for NJ.com
After falling behind the next batter, 2-1, Rincon motioned to Bayonne’s dugout, and his father, Jaime, an assistant coach, visited the mound. By the time Bayonne recorded the third out, Rincon had thrown 31 pitches and the Midwest led, 2-0. Rincon lasted into the fourth inning when he was relieved by shortstop Gabe Garcia Jr. after throwing 65 pitches.
“I think he was good, “Smith said. “We just needed to make a couple more plays here and there. Game of inches, right?”
For the third consecutive game, Bayonne, known for its efficient defense, executed a flawless double play. On Sunday, it was Feliz with the pick and flip to Rincon, who stepped into throw and got the runner at first base. Still, the defensive flair, which has been on display each game during the summer run, could not make up for their offensive deficiencies.
“They kept us in the game for a long time, and we just didn’t put the bat on the ball,” Smith said. “You can turn a lot of double plays, but if you don’t score you can’t win.”
Garcia Jr., the starting shortstop who had been stellar as a reliever in the first two wins for Bayonne at the World Series, surrendered the three-home run in the sixth.
The formula was familiar for the Midwest, which won its previous game with another 15-strikeout performance by its top pitcher, Cooper Thissen. The Midwest’s depth served as a reminder of how many arms it takes to advance deep into the World Series without being thrown into the elimination bracket.
As for Bayonne, Smith maintained that he believed his team would bounce back Tuesday night, noting that the squad had won its previous elimination game against Connecticut in the Metro Regional. During that championship matchup, Bayonne rallied from deficits of 4-0 and 6-2 to claim the regional title and advance to Williamsport.
“They got punched in the face today, and now they have to wake up tomorrow and regroup and keep fighting,” Smith said.
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