Bulls’ Season Concludes in Heartbreak at Regional Championship
BRISTOL, Conn. — The Bulls’ remarkable season has come to a disappointing end.
St. James-Smithtown Little League finished just one victory shy of reaching the Little League World Series, falling 12-1 to Fairfield National of Connecticut in the Metro regional title match.
The Bulls struggled against starting pitcher Luca Pellegrini, who dominated with a one-hit performance and nine strikeouts during a game that ended after four innings, attracting a large crowd at Bristol’s venue.
“It’s tough to end like this, but what a journey we’ve had,” reflected Bulls manager Scott Santelli, visibly emotional after the defeat.
His sorrow stemmed not from missing the chance at Williamsport but from the impending conclusion of his coaching tenure with a group he has guided since their early years.
“Watching them mature… their voices changing as they navigate puberty. They’ve consistently been remarkable kids—kind-hearted teammates. I hope I’ve made a difference in their lives,” he noted.
Pitcher Jeremy Katz had a challenging outing, exiting the game in the first inning after allowing three runs to a team the Bulls had previously defeated 6-1 in pursuit of the championship title.
Relief pitcher Kevin Moran then took the mound, conceding six runs over three innings before Ryan Delgado entered in the fourth, who also faced difficulties, yielding three additional runs in a disastrous seven-run inning for Fairfield.
The Bulls, whose potent offense had propelled them to the finals, faltered early with two innings without a hit.
Catcher JT Borowski managed the team’s lone hit against Pellegrini during the third inning, and following several walks, the Bulls loaded the bases. However, they could only register an RBI walk by center fielder Chase Saxon for the rest of that innings’ scoring efforts.
“That was our moment,” Santelli remarked. “But that’s how it goes sometimes.”
Despite the disappointing end to the modified double-elimination tournament—where St. James-Smithtown remained undefeated but faced elimination rules in the championship clash—the season was still historic.
The 2025 Bulls claimed the first New York state title for their league, and Katz won the state’s home run derby.
Throughout their extraordinary journey, teammates fondly described this summer as the highlight of their lives. While staying at Little League’s complex in Bristol, the Long Islanders formed friendships through casual Wiffle ball games with teams from other tournaments during their free time.
Their hometown also rallied behind them, as supporters gathered in local bars to cheer them on throughout the tournament.
“Looking at the crowd, I’m sure we matched the other side in numbers,” Santelli said, acknowledging the strong presence of fans who crossed the Long Island Sound to support the Bulls.
As this special summer comes to a close, Santelli eagerly anticipates the future for what he calls his "other family."
“This isn’t the end, right? We’ll remain connected. These are all Smithtown kids, so I’ll follow their Smithtown baseball careers closely. It has meant everything to me,” Santelli concluded. “This week has been the best of my life.”
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