{
  "id": 1670435,
  "title": "I knew Bayonne's amazing Little Leaguers way back when | Exclusive",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/i-knew-bayonnes-amazing-little-leaguers-way-back-when-exclusive",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-18T08:16:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/knew-bayonnes-amazing-little-leaguers-081628490.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "From the age of five, young AJ Tapia would giggle with delight as he stood on second base after crushing another double to right field. At six, Connor Reed experimented with switch hitting and surprised everyone by hitting the ball well from both sides of the plate. By seven, Connor Oliva donned his catching gear and quickly proved to be so proficient at the position that the reporter affectionately called him \"Johnny Bench.\"\n\nThese were just a few of the many young athletes who played baseball with passion and determination long before they understood the term. They got dirty, sweaty, and beamed with joy while on the field. The reporter witnessed their love for the game far before they fully grasped its significance.\n\nNow, these athletes form part of the Bayonne team in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, eager to compete in the Little League World Series. On Wednesday, August 19, they will face off against a team from Massachusetts, a match that will air on ESPN at 7 p.m.\n\nJustin Smith, the Bayonne head coach, described Williamsport as \"Disney for baseball\" upon arriving by bus from Bristol, Connecticut, where they had just won their regional championship and qualified for the World Series. Smith, a lifelong Little League enthusiast who coached eight of the twelve Bayonne players before they turned ten, fondly remembered the young players who used to walk around with ice cream dripping down their faces without any concern for cleaning it up.\n\nThrough coach pitch divisions, Smith learned the players' preferences on where the ball should be pitched to build their confidence and improve their skills. As they grew older, they outgrew him, moving on to curve balls, delayed steals, and trick pickoff plays. The reporter witnessed the team's determination and hard work as they battled through the competitive world of travel baseball.\n\nIn a recent regional final, Bayonne faced a 4-0 deficit in the first inning but fought back to win 8-6. Smith stood behind the right field fence, wearing his \"Bayonne vs Everybody\" T-shirt, alongside several hundred people from the Peninsula City who traveled to Bristol for the match.\n\nSmith has always believed in the power of optimism, hard work, and team spirit. He shared these same messages with the Little Leaguers in Bayonne for generations: \"Never give up. Work hard. Dream big. Have fun.\" These are the core values coaches around the world impart to their players. Despite the odds stacked against them, the reporter knew that Bayonne's 12U class of 2026 had something special.",
  "summary": "I coached them when they were Bayonne kids who played baseball with ice cream on their faces. Now they're headed to the Little League World Series.",
  "key_points": [
    "AJ Tapia, Connor Reed, and Oliva played baseball from ages five to seven.",
    "Bayonne team qualified for Little League World Series in Williamsport.",
    "Coach Justin Smith mentored eight of the twelve Bayonne players."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Bayonne in Little League World Series. Who, when does New Jersey play?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/bayonne-in-little-league-world-series-who-when-does-new-jersey-play",
        "published": "2026-08-18T08:05:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}