Little League Dreams Shine Bright for Long Island Boys

The Little League World Series has turned dreams into reality for several boys from Long Island.

St. James Smithtown Little League, the champions of New York State, faced off against Connecticut’s Fairfield National in the regionals. One standout, pitcher and talented hitter Jeremy Cutts, caught the eye of local hero Craig Biggio.

Biggio, who has roots in Kings Park, reflected on how the Hall of Fame exemplifies the idea that greatness can stem from small communities.

“I hope one day we’ll see him in the big leagues,” Biggio said in a post celebrating the New York Home Run Derby Champion.

He added, “The hardest part is getting off the island to gain recognition. This young man understands that well.”

Biggio, much like former Met Frank Catalonette—who played for St. James Smithtown—was excited to see the team make it to the Metro Regional Finals earlier this month.

“I was really pumped up,” the Houston Astros legend remarked.

In his advice to 12-year-old Katz, who is working on his base-running skills, Biggio offered some words of wisdom.

“Think big, dream big. Prioritize, play, and most importantly, have fun without adding pressure,” he suggested.

“Take those steps to build a strong high school team, excel, and then aim for college, which could lead to being drafted.”

Please Call the Plate

A couple of high school students took the spotlight in Williamsport while broadcasting the Mets’ impressive 7-3 win against the Mariners during the MLB Little League Classic on Sunday.

“It was incredible. I’m a huge Mets fan,” said senior Roman Brunetteti, who provided colorful commentary on the special “kids cast.”

Meanwhile, Thomas Gamba, who previously covered the previous year’s Yankees-Tigers matchup, was eager to seize the moment this time around.

“This year, I really wanted a home run, so I hit two,” Gamba shared.

Brunetteti expressed his excitement, saying, “I think I nailed Cole pretty well. It was tough to describe just how amazing it felt.”