An Impressive Run for FNLL

At the gazebo at the Sherman Green in Fairfield

Fairfield National's Little League World Series run is over. 

While they did not win it all, they won in a lot of ways, both on and off the field. 

They won districts, sectionals, the State of Connecticut and the Metro Region to advance to the Little League World Series. In the LLWS, they advanced all the way to the United States Championship. In the Championship on Saturday, they fell to Nevada, representing the Mountain Region, 8-2. 

Fairfield defeated Aruba on Sunday in the "third place game" to finish as the third best team in the World. A tremendous accomplishment! 

Most importantly, the boys of FNLL, as well as the coaches, represented Fairfield and captivated the Town of Fairfield and the State of Connecticut in an amazing way. 

They created memories for themselves that will last a lifetime. 

Fairfield was so impressive to watch. This is a team that won by playing well in all facets of the game, Hitting, pitching, defense and smart baserunning. A roster that consisted of: 

Logan Gryga
Ben Herbst
Charlie McCullough
Luca Pellegrini
Dante Madera
Joe Sorrentino
Brian Palazzolo
SJ Taxiltaridis
Tommy D'Amura
Colin Curley
Jimmy Taxiltaridis
Boden Dunlap

Some standout performances were the pitching and defense of Pellegrini. The pitching and hitting of SJ Taxiltaridis. The defense and hitting and leadership behind the plate of Jimmy Taxiltaridis. The hitting and pitching of Tommy D'Amura. And the defense of Dante Madera in center field and Brian Palazzolo at third base. 

There are so many others I could have named. That is the issue with sometimes trying to give shoutouts. No offense intended to anyone not mentioned. It is a tremendous TEAM! 

Congrats to Manager Brian Palazzolo and Coaches Dave Gryga and Tom Curley as well 

They were the third Connecticut team to make the United States Championship, joining Trumbull in 1989, who won it all, and Westport in 2013. 

They were just the fourth team from Fairfield to make the Little League World Series. Fairfield American made it in 2010, 2012 and 2017. 

The Town of Fairfield will honor the team on Monday at the Sherman Green. Come out and show them your support! 

While I'm not going to say I really know anyone on the team that well, I know family and friends of the players and coaches and my passion for sports, and especially baseball, in this town make it a pleasure to watch and follow. 

It was great to see all fans who went down to Williamsport to support, those who attended watch parties at local establishments and those who supported in other ways. There was also a lot of support on social media and in other ways around town. This just goes to show what a great community this town is. It does not matter which side of town you live on, which little league you are a part of, or which schools you attend or attended, it's about being a part of "One Town." 

These kids are not only great players but seem like great young men who we are all excited to watch and see what they do in the future, in all sports and life. 

For now, congratulations and thank you, Fairfield National! 

Find Your Fun - A Day at The Ballpark

Rob Adams has been trying to get me to come to a Hudson Valley Renegades game since 2021. 

Well, today, he finally got me there. 

The Renegades have a slogan, "Find Your Fun." Well, this was definitely my fun. 

I met Rob (and Sean Adams) in Greenwich and went with them up to the Hudson Valley. 

On our way up, I got to see a few places that Rob has talked about, so it was good to see them in person. 

The Renegades were set to play the Aberdeen IronBirds 

When we got into the stadium, Rob took me on a tour.  I've been to minor league ballparks before, but it's cool seeing different parks. We walked the concourse, went into the gift shop and the lounge. I was tempted to buy a hat (or something else) but then decided not to.

Rob would be doing public address and Sean would be on the high-home camera. When we walked to the upper level where the suites and booths were, we passed the visiting radio booth (which is where Sean run the camera from, the home radio booth, the press box and then finally to the PA booth. 

Prior to, during and after the game, there were plenty of activities going on. That is a major part of minor league baseball. There was multiple first pitches, dances from a couple groups, between inning games and more. Following the game, kids were able to run the bases and there was a tennis ball toss game. 

During the game, I hung out in the PA booth with Rob and three others who were in there as the booth producer, stadium audio producer and graphic director for the scoreboard. I don't know if those are their actual roles and titles, but that is what they are doing. 

Different people came in and out of the booth throughout the game. From Renegades game personnel to some fans as well as a couple young PA announcers who did a half inning each. 

The game was a really great game by both teams. It was a scoreless game through the first five innings. 

The Renegades got on the board in the sixth on a Josh Moylan RBI single. That would be all the 'Gades pitchers would need as four pitchers combined on a one-hitter. 

Following the game, after wrapping up with the others in the booth, Rob, Sean and I walked to the field so Rob could catch up with Greg Jones, who was the on-field host. He is the one who Rob works with in-game and who handles the between inning game. It was fun to stand on the field for a few minutes and just take in the atmosphere as the tennis ball toss was finishing up. 

After that, it was time to go home. 

Thank you to Rob, Sean and everyone else for a fun time. 

A great day.  

Summer Ball 2025

Another summer of baseball has come to an end for me. 

It was different, a lot lighter than in summers past, but still enjoyable. 

There was no Trumbull Babe Ruth tournament, or any Babe Ruth tournament coverage that I joined Rob Adams for. 

Rob did do a lot of Cal Ripken baseball, both in Oxford and New Canaan. I did go hang out for one day of the Oxford tournament and listened to a lot of the rest of both tournaments. 

My baseball summer consisted of my role with the Bridgeport Barnums of the Connecticut College Baseball League once again. 

My role is basically scorekeeper, but I will do whatever. 

It's enjoyable to be a part of the staff and the team in whatever role. 

As I've said before whether it's coaching, broadcasting, scorekeeping, writing, etc, you are always part of a "team" in some capacity. Just not always part of THE team. This could (and may) be a separate blog post. 

As for the Barnums, they had another terrific season. 

They finished with an overall record of 23-4-2 winning the regular season CCBL championship. 

In the double-elimination playoffs, they won their first game, lost their second, won two straight before falling in what was called the elimination finals which was basically the semifinals. 

We saw some great performances on the mound from guys like Zach Broderick, Jimmy Mutherbaugh, Will Gregor and Hayden Lee. *

*It's always risky to shout out people, because you know you are going to accidentally forget people and it's hard to mention everyone. 

I enjoyed hanging with and helping out the coaches and players. Many players who I knew from either past Barnums seasons or from Ludlowe and Warde baseball. Then, there were players who I had just met this summer. 

It's a different role and relationship during the summer than it is when I am coaching at Ludlowe in the spring. I enjoyed getting to talk to and watch players like Kieran Scruggs (Ludlowe grad headed to Eastern Connecticut), Luke Stasko (Ludlowe grad headed to Virginia Wesleyan) and Meyer Stransky (Warde grad headed to Gettysburg), among others. 

Those are just a few of the Fairfield players that are a part of the Barnums. Besides the Fairfield players, it's guys from plenty of other surrounding areas including Trumbull, Easton and Bethel, to name a few. And obviously Bridgeport. 

It's a tremendous coaching staff led by Manager Chris Bugyi and Coaches Jim Chaves and Mark Keeney. The whole operation is led by General Manager Sars Ford. It's impressive what they have built in just a few short years in existence. 

It's also about the support staff of Blake Benway on social media and Jake Calabro on public address, among others. 

Then it's about the fans and the sponsors. 

Everyone plays a role. 

It's over as quick as it starts. 

But it was fun.