This year’s Little League NYS Softball Tournament will take place in the Town of Smithtown, hosted by the St. James-Smithtown Little League (SJSLL.) The State Tournament will open on Thursday, July 13th at 12:00pm at Gaynor Park, home of the host league’s flagship playing field. Opening ceremony festivities will include family oriented entertainment, a bounce house and face painting.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for the Town of Smithtown, and I applaud Rich Tomitz, the Board of Directors and the families of St. James-Smithtown Little League for all their hard work and commitment in securing the State Tournament to take place in our hometown. In addition to welcoming families from across the State to our community, the State Tournament benefits the local shops, dining establishments and local businesses alike. Most importantly, playing a sport and competing with a team of one's peers provides our future generations with vital life skills, and healthy fun away from computer and phone screens. This is a family-oriented town and we couldn’t be happier to host hundreds of families with open arms.” - Supervisor Ed Wehrheim, Town of Smithtown
The two week tournament is held annually for youth playing in 10U, 11U, and 12U age group divisions in the month of July. The winner of the 12U division bracket will advance to the Mid-Atlantic regional tournament for a chance to compete in the Little League Softball World Series in Greenville, South Carolina.
Mid Island Little League, Saugerties Little League, Fayetteville-Manlius Little League, Orchard Park Little League, Chittenango Little League, Massapequa International and St. James- Smithtown Little League are all competing for the chance to head to the Mid-Atlantic regional tournament. Each competing team had to win their respective tournaments in order to qualify for the State Tournament.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for not only St. James-Smithtown Little League, but the Town of Smithtown to showcase our incredible community to New Yorkers across the state. We are incredibly appreciative of the tremendous support from our local officials – specifically Supervisor Edward Wehrheim – New York Little League District 35, Little League International, and our own Board of Directors in helping in our pursuit to bring this tournament to our town. We look forward to having the chance to show softball families from all over New York what Smithtown can do.” - Richard Tomitz, President of St. James-Smithtown Little League
Previous State Tournaments have been hosted by Brighton Little League in Rochester, who opted to transfer an existing contract to Smithtown. The St. James-Smithtown Little League will assume the final year of Brighton’s term before it can bid for a fresh three-year deal to begin in 2024.
“Having the chance to participate in this tournament in Rochester the last two years has been a highlight of these girls’ Little League experience… We are so excited at the prospect of representing Smithtown on our own home fields against the best youth softball talent in the state.” - Peter Russo, Vice President of Softball for St. James-Smithtown Little League, Manager 11U Championship Team
St. James-Smithtown Little League teams have participated in the tournament over the last two years, with Smithtown’s 11U team claiming the New York State title last Summer.
For more information on SJSLL, visit sjsll.com.
For more information on Little League’s baseball and softball programs, visit littleleague.org.