St. James/Smithtown team an inspiration in the community

More than 200 St. James/Smithtown Little League supporters took over Bull Smith’s Tavern in Smithtown on Friday night with hopes of seeing their friends, neighbors and community members achieve every young baseball player’s dream of making it to the Little League World Series in Williamsport.

And although that wasn’t the outcome for the St. James/Smithtown 12U baseball team, which lost, 12-1, to Fairfield National (Connecticut) on Friday night in the Metro Region championship game in Bristol, Connecticut, that doesn’t take away from the pride of those supporters.

“This is the game of baseball, it can be your best friend one minute and it can humble you the next,” said Brian Erni, the president of St. James/Smithtown Little League. “But I’m sure even though the kids may feel humbled in this very moment, we are so proud of them. They’ve accomplished something that’s never been done in the history of our league. They put Smithtown on the map, and it wouldn’t shock me to see us in this regional tournament more and more as the years go on. They’ve inspired a whole new crop of kids.”

Dozens of those kids were running around Bull Smith’s Tavern and watching the televisions in excitement at seeing kids who, only a few years older than them, have felt like celebrities over the last few weeks.

“To see them keep winning and almost make it to Williamsport is amazing,” said Vincent Zuppo IV, a 9-year-old from Smithtown. “It’s been so fun to come here and watch them grind and win. They inspire me to be like them one day.”

Zuppo’s father, Vincent Zuppo III, said his son has watched every pitch of the Metro Region tournament.

“All Little League players strive to be a part of this,” said Zuppo III, who is also a St. James/Smithtown Little League board member. “He’s been glued to the TV. He knows all the kids that are involved, and for him, it’s probably been a much bigger experience than even for me.”

SEE PHOTOSPhotos: St. James/Smithtown LLWS Regional watch party

If Smithtown/St. James had won Friday night, it would have been just the second Long Island program since 1978 to qualify for the LLWS. Massapequa Coast last did so in 2022.

“I really feel this is Smithtown’s arrival on a national stage,” Erni said. “And there’s a lot more where that came from.”

Erni thanked the St. James/Smithtown community for their interest in the team’s success.

“I think it’s captivated our imagination to what’s possible and with kids, especially nowadays, I think it’s so important that we don’t put ceilings over them,” Erni said. “Too many people are telling them what they can’t do, and I think this is a great reminder that dreams do come true.”

The younger Zuppo and his friends have been in awe of the 12U players, who have been playing on ESPN networks throughout the regional stage. As a baseball player himself, he hopes to be in their situation in the next few years.

“We’re always talking about how they might get to Williamsport,” Zuppo said. “That must be so cool for them. Knowing that might be me one day is awesome.”

Even as St. James/Smithtown fell behind early in Friday's game, patrons yelled encouragement toward the television. And afterward, many at the watch party stood and clapped for the team.

Added Erni, “I would not be surprised if this is not the end of St. James/Smithtown Little League on ESPN.”