Smithtown Hosts 2024 Little League Championship Tournament

ST. JAMES, NY — The 2024 Little League NYS Softball Tournament kicked off Monday in the Town of Smithtown, hosted by the St. James-Smithtown Little League (SJSLL) in partnership with the town, for the second straight year, the town announced.

The state tournament’s opening ceremony took place at noon Monday at Veterans Memorial Park — aka Moriches Park — with the first round of games in the 12U division playing on Fields 4 and 5.

The opening ceremony swung into action with family-oriented entertainment, music and live streaming courtesy of GT Party Entertainment Ltd. Families from all over New York state enjoyed bounce houses, refreshments, awards and welcoming remarks from the best dressed Master of Ceremonies and SJSLL, President Rich Tomitz.

Supervisor Ed Wehrheim welcomed the softball teams, coaches and families from across the state who will battle it out on the ball field for the title of 2024 Little League State Champions.

"This is a tremendous occasion for the Town of Smithtown at large, and of course all of our young and talented athletes who will play for the title of champions," Wehrheim said. "I would like to 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 for the second year running. In addition to welcoming families from across New York to Smithtown, this tournament is a great benefit to our local shops, dining establishments and our community. Most importantly, playing a sport and competing with a team of one's peers, provides our future leaders of the world 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 welcome hundreds of families with open arms."

The tournament is held annually for youth playing in 10U, 11U, and 12U age group divisions and runs through July 19. The winner of the 12U division bracket will advance to the mid-Atlantic regional tournament for a chance to compete in the 2024 Little League Softball World Series in Greenville, South Carolina in August. The 11U and 10U divisions of the NY State Softball Tournament begins next week, on Monday, July 15 and runs through July 19.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for not only our organization, but the Town of Smithtown to showcase our incredible community to New Yorkers across the state," Tomitz said. "We are incredibly appreciative of the tremendous support from our local officials — specifically Supervisor Edward Wehrheim, who got these fields renovated specifically to welcome this tournament — 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 hometown for the second year in a row. We look forward to having the chance to show softball families from all over New York what a special place Smithtown is."

The Smithtown Parks Department completed renovations at Veterans Memorial Ballpark on Field 4 at the beginning of the month. The ball field boasts a 90-foot synthetic turf infield and a sod outfield with a "state-of-the-art irrigation system," according to the town. Renovations include a brand new dugout, masonry work, retaining walls, a backstop with power for announcers and entertainment, new outfield fencing, and bleachers.

This was the second ball field to be completely renovated at Veterans Memorial Park, with Field 5 being completed in fall 2022. Field Five was named in memory of the founder of the St. James /Smithtown Little League and WWII hero; James E. Dowling.

Both ball parks are within regulation guidelines for tournaments and little league games. The completed work compliments the previous renovations at Moriches/Vets Memorial Park, which included the replacement of turf fields at the Soccer Complex, a soft splash pad at the waterpark, state-of-the-art playgrounds, interactive playhouse, pickle ball conversion at the tennis courts, new fencing surrounding the play areas, concrete sidewalks, a LED user-friendly crosswalk, and all new landscaping. The new ball field makeover was the result of a public-private relationship with the St James/Smithtown Little League.