New Jersey Little Leaguer plays after judge lifts his suspension for ‘unsportsmanlike’ bat flip

DEPTFORD, N.J. (AP) — Marco Rocco fidgeted with his helmet and dug in at the plate to chants of “Marco! Marco!” from his Little League teammates as he settled in for a night of baseball, after his family got mixed up in a court case where a judge — not an umpire or coach — made the call that allowed him to take the field.

The 12-year-old played Thursday night for his New Jersey team hours after he faced a suspension from his first state tournament game after he was ejected for flipping his bat as he celebrated a home run.