Call them the Bulls in the parade.
The St. James Smith Town Little League has secured a place in the All-Oless Games, paving their way to the Little League World Series this Friday at 7 PM.
After a significant 6-1 victory over Connecticut’s Fairfield International Little League, Bulls manager Scott Santelli shared his thoughts about reaching the Bristol Metro Regional Final in Connecticut.
“Last year we lost our first match in the district tournament… I’m just focusing on moving forward this season. Everything else is just a bonus,” he remarked.
Following Monday’s final, Santelli joined the jubilant boys in the outfield, celebrating what has been a standout season for both towns.
“I had this ball of energy in my stomach that I just needed to let out,” he added.
“Honestly, I don’t even remember what I said. I don’t think they understood either,” he joked.
The excitement didn’t stop there. A jump for joy, followed by a pool party, marked the moment, as the Bulls delivered another impressive performance on ESPN.
On the mound, Ryan Delgado was exceptional, racking up five key strikeouts in the first 3²/₃ innings to keep the Bulls ahead.
“I went with my gut and made him a starter last night,” Santelli explained. “He’s just a fierce competitor, a real athlete.”
Delgado also contributed offensively with a crucial single that helped bring in two important insurance runs during their five-inning game against Fairfield.
“I’ve been seeing the ball well. My swing feels good. Everything is clicking,” Delgado said.
Lucas Costas fueled the tournament with an RBI double, marking his fourth hit and helping the team secure five runs since they began their journey in Burrillville, Rhode Island.
Santelli noted that having Costas at the bottom of the lineup was a strategic decision, not a demotion.
“I like having power throughout the lineup. The bottom can score just like the top,” Costas mentioned.
Kevin Moran, who leads the team in pre-game meditation, was effective as he pitched the final seven outs, further suppressing Fairfield’s bats.
“The meditation is really paying off. Everyone is hitting well and playing great,” Moran said. “It helps calm us down, even the coach.”
Fairfield faces Jackson Holbrook from New Jersey in another game at 5 PM on Wednesday. Fairfield had a rough start to the opening round with a controversial head-first slide that caused some issues.
In the next few days, the Bulls are gearing up for what could be the highlight of their young careers, filled with fun activities like poker and wiffleball.
“We plan to gather with our local bar. People are excited about the video footage we’ll share,” Santelli said.
“St. James Smithtown – we’re making our mark.”
Nearby Kings Park pitcher Jeremy Katz also aims to showcase his hometown, famous for producing talents like Craig Biggio.
“Kings Park might be small, but there’s no doubt we’ve got talent,” Katz remarked after an impressive outing with three RBIs. “People should really take notice.”
