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Haddonfield Little Leaguer Reinstated From Bat Flip Suspension, Team Gets Mercy Ruled

By Kyle Pagan

Published: Jul 25th, 2025 · 10:19 AM EDT

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Good news: Marco Rocco was reinstated in time to play in Haddonfield Little League’s state tournament game after he was suspended for a bad flip.

Bad news: His team was mercy ruled and there were no bat flips because they lost 10-zip.

Life comes at you fast!

Here’s a quick synopsis on how we got here:

Rocco flipped a bat after a towering home run on July 16th and Little League flipped shit. He was ejected and given a one-game suspension. The Gloucester County Superior Court got involved and told Little League to back off and the kid could play because we still have common sense in this world. I think the lawyer for the Rocco’s used my exact argument in court, according to this writeup at CBSNews.com:

Brian Berkley, the Rocco family attorney, noted Little League has promoted bat-flipping highlights on its website and other social media platforms.

“Let’s be clear, there is no express rule in the Little League rule book against flipping a bat in celebration,” Berkley argued. “When it suits Little League’s interest, it not only condones bat flipping, but it actually promotes bat flipping.”

(Judge Robert) Malestein agreed there was a double standard when it came to punishing or promoting bat flipping.

“By punishing this youngster on this occasion and not him on the two prior occasions, or by punishing this youngster and not others, who are on the website and on the social media website, of the X website of Little League baseball, it appears they engaging in an application of their rules which would appear to be arbitrary and capricious,” Malestein said. “Which is, would be, an abuse of discretion.”

100% double standards. Here’s my argument from Tuesday:

You can’t suspend a kid for bat flipping. Not in this day and age. If you ask me, this Rocco kid is teaching that pitcher a valuable life lesson at a young age. Don’t want me to launch my bat to the moon? Throw it by me. No need to punish a kid for having a little bit of fun after hitting one out of the park. The nutso part is this isn’t the first time he’s bat flipped after a home run. Here’s video from a couple weeks ago of him bat flipping after a home run. Now, don’t get me wrong, that one compared to the bat he launched into orbit is a little different, but in my opinion all bat flips are created equal. If we’re going to start judging bat flips on a case-by-case basis then it’s going to be anarchy on the diamonds of Haddonfield and beyond. This country was founded on due process. Everyone has a right to a fair trial. If we sent every child who bat flipped to the gallows we would have no more Little League.

And I love how hypocritical Little League is. Here’s a highlight of a Nicaraguan player last year bat flipping, cupping his ear like a young Hulkamaniac, AND griddying across home plate.

Should I send my invoice to the Roccos or the lawyer’s firm?

Anyway, Haddonfield Little League got smoked by Elmora and Rocco went 0-2. Rocco started on the bench to ease him into the game and wasn’t put at third base until the Haddonfield starter gave up six runs in 2/3 of a inning. It was over in the first inning. Tough outing for the boys from Haddonfield, but the good news is that it’s a double-elimination tournament. Now that this bat flip stuff is behind them, the 2024 State Champs can focus on winning the entire thing. The Delaware Valley loves an underdog!