St. James-Smithtown Dominates Burrillville Little League and Advances to Semifinals

A Crushing Victory

St. James-Smithtown showcased their prowess on Saturday night, overpowering Burrillville Little League from Rhode Island with an emphatic 18-0 victory in the opening round of the Metro tournament held in Bristol, Connecticut. This decisive win propels the reigning New York State champions closer to their ultimate goal: a spot in the Little League World Series.

Leadership on the Mound

Jeremy Katz, the ace pitcher for St. James-Smithtown, delivered an impressive performance, pitching 4 ⅓ innings while striking out nine batters and allowing just two hits.

"With a victory like that, we’re good in all of our pitch counts,” said manager Scott Santelli. “I didn’t expect to win by 18, but it was the start we wanted and needed. Now, we’re off to the races.”

Katz also contributed offensively, driving in three runs during the game and demonstrating confidence that he attributes to being part of a cohesive team.

Offensive Explosion

The Long Island squad was relentless on offense, racking up 15 hits throughout the game. Notably, Lucas Kostas, who batted in four runs, ignited their momentum with a crucial second-inning RBI single.

"Once we scored that one run, we were confident," said Kevin Moran, who also had three RBIs. "We had our ace on the mound, and we had everyone ready to go."

The team’s offensive power was on full display, especially in the sixth inning, where they scored 11 runs and sent 17 batters to the plate.

Injury Impacting the Opponent

Rhode Island’s starting pitcher, Jace Detonnancourt, exhibited promise before being forced to leave the game in the third inning due to an arm injury, tallied with six strikeouts to his credit.

Looking Ahead

With the momentum on their side, St. James-Smithtown is now set to face the local favorites, Fairfield National, in the winner’s bracket semifinal on Monday at 1 p.m. The stakes are high, with a second chance awaiting the losing team at 7 p.m. Wednesday for a shot at the final on Friday.

Key Takeaways for St. James-Smithtown

• Strong pitching by Jeremy Katz with 9 strikeouts.
• Dynamic offensive contributions from players like Lucas Kostas and Kevin Moran.
• Recognition of the importance of team confidence in achieving their goals.

The excitement builds as the team remains focused and locked in on their journey toward the Little League World Series.

For more information on the Little League World Series, visit the official Little League website.