Bat flip lands new jersey little leaguer in court, but judge lets him play

HADDONFIELD, N.J. — A New Jersey Little Leaguer was cleared to play in his state championship game Thursday — not by an umpire or a league official, but by a judge.

Twelve-year-old Marco Rocco of Haddonfield was suspended from the first game of the state tournament after he was ejected for flipping his bat following a dramatic two-run homer in the final inning of a sectional title game on July 16.

https:// /chrisilluminati/status/1947822923223277740

The ejection was for “unsportsmanlike” conduct and “horseplay,” according to Marco’s family — a ruling they challenged in court just hours before the state tournament began.

Judge Robert Malestein issued an emergency temporary restraining order Thursday, allowing Marco to return to the lineup for the championship opener.

“Just happy my son got to play baseball,” said Joe Rocco, Marco’s father, after a legal battle that he described as “stressful.”

The bat flip — which came after a sixth-inning home run — sparked debate online, especially given that the league itself has previously highlighted bat flips in promotional reels. Critics of the suspension argued that the punishment was excessive for a 12-year-old participating in a youth baseball celebration.

Marco was cheered on by chants of “Marco! Marco!” from teammates as he stepped into the batter’s box Thursday night, hours after the judge’s decision.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.