There was one more running of the Bulls.
St. James-Smithtown Little League returned to Long Island as little heroes and champions in the hearts of townsfolk, who threw the boys a glorious parade Sunday, after they came up one game short of the Little League World Series.
“This is a great way to go out. … We put our towns on the map,” Bulls manager Scott Santelli told The Post. “It’s such a good note, knowing that the community is still behind us and supports us and loves us.”
Though the team faltered Friday in a tough 12-1 loss in the Metro regional final against Connecticut’s Fairfield National in Bristol, Conn., this 2025 roster was St. James-Smithtown’s first New York state champion.
“Hopefully this is the first of many,” Santelli said. “I think we have some really good teams coming up in the pipeline.”
Riding on fire trucks, the boys toured the heart of Smithtown on Sunday morning to the roars of die-hard fans, starting at a local firehouse at 10:30 a.m. and ending at Town Hall a half-hour later.
The Bulls squad were also given the first ever key to Smithtown to celebrate what they did for the North Shore nabe.
“All of Suffolk County is proud of this team,” county executive Ed Romaine told The Post of the fans who took a ferry to Connecticut for the title game and the bars filled to the brim for watch parties.
A local Stop & Shop made special Bulls cupcakes, and a Smithtown Philly Pretzel factory made special twists in the shape of their logo, too.
“Everyone came together to show their support. … We can’t wait to see what you do next year,” Romaine said.
Bulls on parade
Meanwhile, the players still were soaking in what Santelli called a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
He and his two boys popped into a sporting goods store near the Bristol field Saturday and immediately got recognized from their few games aired on ESPN.
Pitcher Kevin Moran, who led his team in lights-out meditations throughout the tournament, was recognized at a diner in the Constitution State over the weekend as well.
“I think the visibility that this is going to give the town is going to help our Little League prosper and get bigger,” Santelli said.
For Jeremy Katz, who won the New York state home run derby, this summer made him feel like he was in the big leagues, according to his mom, Jodi.
“Everything that everybody’s been doing just to make them feel special and appreciated and supported has been amazing — and the boys noticed that. It puts a smile on their faces,” she said. “We’re making a scrapbook of all the news articles to show Jeremy … and he just couldn’t believe it.”
Santelli was brought to tears after the loss Friday, devastated that his time with the boys, whom he had coached since they were in early elementary school, would soon come to an end.
He can’t think of a better farewell than Sunday’s townwide festivities, plus one final trip to Cooperstown with the boys next week for an end-of-summer tournament with his “other family.”
“I can guarantee you no other team has had a going-away party like our team has,” he said.
Jodi Katz, meanwhile, is forever grateful for how Long Island showed how much these kids matter.
“We’re going to remember this feeling of warmth and support forever,” she said. “It makes us so proud.”
Read the full article here
