Fairfield American Gears Up For Little League World Series

FAIRFIELD, CT — As the players of the Fairfield American Little League prepare to step into the spotlight Thursday afternoon and represent Connecticut, and New England, at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, they are doing what 12-and-13-year-olds do — playing games and making new friends. They are also getting plenty of practice time in and will be ready when they take the field to square off against Holbrook Little League, the Mid-Atlantic champions out of Jackson, New Jersey on Thursday (Aug. 17) at 3 p.m. in a game that will be broadcast on ESPN.

“It’s been unbelievable,” Fairfield American manager Mike Randazzo said in an interview on Tuesday afternoon about the team’s recent experiences. Fairfield arrived in Williamsport on Sunday, fresh off a 10-0 victory over South Portland, Maine, in the New England Regional final Saturday in Bristol. (To sign up for Fairfield breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

Randazzo said that they’ve practiced every day since they arrived in Williamsport and officials there have made everything as easy as possible for the kids to have a normal practice routine. He said that despite all of the extra attention, the players are acting like 12-and-13-year-old boys and that the parents and coaches are probably more nervous than the players.

“We’ll see what happens,” Randazzo said. “After a couple of pitches, it will just be a game and they’ll play it like a game. I don’t think the boys are nervous.”

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The players have yet to step onto the historic Lamade Stadium field that they will play Thursday’s game on, but they’ve seen it and Randazzo said “that’s when they realized what they’ve accomplished.”

The teams are staying in a dorm and can see the field from their room. There are three suites to a room and all 14 players are in a room together with seven bunk beds and there is a shared door between the players and the coaches.

Fairfield American is sharing a bathroom with Italy and “it’s kids being kids,” Randazzo said.

“The boys are trading gear and playing games,” Randazzo said. “They all have Google translator so they’re communicating with the other players even though they speak different languages.

“It’s really awesome.”

Fairfield American (18-0) made Connecticut history by becoming the first state program to advance to the Little League World Series three times. The Fairfield American program also advanced to the Little League World Series in the 2010 and 2012 seasons.

“There are only eight teams in this country playing meaningful Little League baseball at this point and Fairfield American is one of them and the whole program should be proud,” Randazzo said. “We’re here to play baseball and win this tournament.”

Randazzo said Fairfield American is a close-knit organization and he has talked to the other coaches and officials from the program who have been to the Little League World Series about their experiences. He said John Lucas, who was the first base coach for the 2012 team, has been a big part of this year’s team, both baseball-wise and mentally.

Whenever this run ends for Fairfield American, it will also be the end for Randazzo. He is retiring at the end of the season, but he said it’s not because he’s looking to ride off into the sunset with a World Series team or anything like that. His son Leo, who plays third base, is graduating from the program and Randazzo is looking forward to enjoying his games at the next level. His older son, Michael, is also going to be playing baseball at Bryant University next year and he wants to see him play.

Randazzo has been involved with the program since about 2005 and he said he will still be around if anyone needs him.

“This program has been a part of our family since we moved into town and it always will be,” Randazzo said.

This Fairfield American team was always knocking on the door in the district tournament as 10 to 12 year-olds before breaking through this year and it’s now their time to step into the spotlight. The new season begins on Thursday where all of the teams are 0-0 as Randazzo says.

“This is a dream come true for the boys and they probably won’t realize it until several years from now, but unless they play big college baseball or make it to the Major Leagues, this is the biggest crowd they’ll ever play in front of,” Randazzo said. “It’s now time for these boys to be spoken in the same breath as those other great Fairfield American teams.”

Photo via Little League Baseball