St. James-Smithtown Little League adopts pregame ritual as battle to World Series continues
St. James-Smithtown Little League is taking a page out of peaceful Pedro Cerrano's 'Major League II' playbook, doing guided pregame meditations to shake off the jitters that come with big Little League World Series dreams.
'We turn the lights off, you lie down — or you can sit up — close your eyes, and listen and work on your breathing,' Bulls center fielder and de facto guru Kevin Moran told The Post from the Metro regional tournament in Bristol, Conn.
Long Island's tantric team was surely prepared for an opening-round matchup against Rhode Island's Burrillville, rolling to an 18-0 win with an 11-run sixth inning that saw 17 batters at the plate on Saturday evening.
4 he St. James-Smithtown Little League team poses for a photo during practice in St. James, N.Y. on Monday, July 28, 2025. The team recently won the New York State title and are now playing for a chance to go to Williamsport.
Heather Khalifa for the NY Post
'We were a little nervous at the start of the game,' Moran said. 'Then, just working on our breathing, we calmed down, and then we did very well.'
Moran has been going soulful since late June, but more recently, his pal pitcher Jeremy Katz caught word during the New York State championship, where he won the home run derby.
'He heard I did it and has been doing it with me the last three games. Then Saturday night was the first time the whole team had done it,' Moran said.
'I feel like it calms us down and brings down our nerves. We get locked in,' he said of the group that finds dim-lit mindfulness in their dorm at the A. Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center.
Now only two wins away from the Little League World Series in Williamsport, the serenity-now style is here to stay.
4 Manager Scott Santelli during a St. James-Smithtown Little League practice in St. James, N.Y. on Monday, July 28, 2025.
Heather Khalifa for the NY Post
'Since we won 18-0, we're definitely going to keep this up,' added right fielder Eric Hanson. 'It really helped me soothe before the game. I was very relaxed and ready to go.'
That's not to say the 12-year-olds are going full-on Aaron Rodgers darkness retreat style; they're still mixing it up with out-of-state teams and making new friends, too — all in broad daylight.
'It's just such an awesome experience having fun with them,' said outfielder and designated hitter Hunter Falcone.
'Just running around, playing Wiffle ball, all that.'
4 Ryan Delgado #27 at bat during a St. James-Smithtown Little League practice in St. James, N.Y. on Monday, July 28, 2025.
Heather Khalifa for the NY Post
Particularly, the New Yorkers have gotten very friendly with the team from Delaware's Middletown-Odessa-Townsend Little League, who are playing in the Mid-Atlantic tournament on the same campus.
Now in the semifinals versus Connecticut's Fairfield International at 1 p.m. Monday (ESPN), the Bulls' mission is simple: Stay calm on the inside and see red on the field.
'I just think we just have to play our game and keep our energy up,' said second baseman Dominic Ciminiello. 'Then it will be very hard to beat us.'
Manager Scott Santelli quickly recognized that Connecticut's team, naturally, has a large presence in the stands — but the Long Island moms and dads have a 10th-man mentality that is steering their boys toward victory as well.
4 Ryan Delgado #27 at bat during a St. James-Smithtown Little League practice in St. James, N.Y. on Monday, July 28, 2025.
Heather Khalifa for the NY Post
'There's a lot of cheering in our crowd,' added Ciminiello, who recalled how loud their families were in the New York State championship against South Shore Little League on their home turf on Staten Island.
'It helped us win that game,' he said of the 7-2 victory over the 2024 LLWS Metro representative.
Even on the home front, folks are pouring on support for St. James-Smithtown.
The New York Islanders sent a good luck message to the squad, Smithtown's Philly Pretzel factory location started making special bull-shaped treats, and the local Bull Smith's tavern was packed for a watch party for the Saturday night win.
'It's just been crazy,' Hanson said. 'The support is coming from everywhere, even teams in the other tournaments cheering us on. It's just been great.'
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