Bayonne’s Little League World Series title hopes have come to a close.
The New Jersey squad’s run ended Tuesday evening with its 5-2 elimination game loss to West Side Little League of Hamilton, Ohio, in Williamsport, Pa., officially knocking Bayonne out of the tournament.
Both starting pitchers kept the opposing teams scoreless through the first three innings, with Bayonne’s Jett Bridges escaping out of a jam in the second thanks to left fielder Dex Zimmerman throwing out a runner at home to end the inning.
Hamilton starter Boone Treadway gave up just two hits in the first three innings while striking out five batters.
With Bridges out, the Great Lakes squad broke the game open, exploding for five runs thanks to three consecutive walks to start the inning, a string of hits, and some miscues in the infield.
Bayonne answered in the fifth with their first run of the game. Their rally hopes were ended, however, with back-to-back strikeouts from Treadway to end the inning.
Bayonne managed to spark a second rally in the sixth starting with a walk and single, which ultimately knocked Treadway out of the game.
After Hamilton reliever Bryson Williams got two quick outs, Bayonne scrapped across a second run, tightening their deficit to three with the tying run at the plate.
Bayonne’s hopes were ended, however, when Chase Klimkowski grounded into the final out of the game.
While their Great Lakes opponent stormed the field in celebration, Bayonne’s players fought off tears as their coach made a speech to the team.
Despite the loss, Bayonne coach Justin Smith insisted that his staff “couldn’t be more proud” of the kids.
“I think the kids had a great run,” Smith said in his postgame press conference. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but top 6 in the country and top 12 in the world, you can’t really complain much about that.
“Small town of Bayonne and the kids really proved themselves. We couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Treadway was able to keep Bayonne’s hitters mostly at bay, finishing his night with eight strikeouts and three walks with two earned runs through five-plus innings pitched.
“We took a little too long to get them [the bats] going,” Smith admitted. “Their pitcher was really good.”
“We fought like we always tell kids from Bayonne to do, and we battled to the end,” he added.
Hamilton is set to face off against Phenix City, Ala., of the Southeast region on Wednesday.
Bayonne’s run was one of New Jersey’s greatest in recent history, with the 2026 team being the first team to win the regional tournament since Holbrook Little League of Jackson in 2017.
As Bayonne’s time at the Little League World Series comes to an end, Smith said that he wants his players to really enjoy and remember the experience.
“Being here is not something that many people can say they were,” he said. “Take it all in, all the people they met, the good times they had.”
