Hofstra Coach Celebrates St. James-Smithtown's LLWS Journey
Frank Catalanotto is immersed in nostalgia as he tracks the progress of the St. James-Smithtown baseball team on their journey to the Little League World Series.
The former Major League player, who once donned the Mets uniform, remains closely connected to his roots in Smithtown, where he played in the league during the late 1970s and early '80s. “I try to follow them as closely as I can,” he shared, reflecting on the joy of watching his former team compete.
“It definitely brings up some memories… what they’re doing now and how much fun they’re having, I miss those times, like you can’t believe,” Catalanotto added, expressing a deep sense of nostalgia for his youth.
As the head coach of Hofstra's baseball team, Catalanotto feels a strong connection to the local baseball community. Last year, he received the honor of having his number 27 retired by the St. James-Smithtown Bulls at Gaynor Park, a place he passes daily. “I’m glad that the love for baseball has endured for decades in the area,” he remarked.
“It’s where I got my passion for the game,” said Catalanotto, who boasts a lifetime batting average of .291. He also offered some sage advice to the young athletes as they prepare for a challenging matchup against top teams from Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Jersey. “I remember sometimes the moment would get too big for me and some kids. I think what you have to do is relax and have fun,” he advised.
“My best times and the best memories were when I was having fun playing baseball. So I would just say soak it all in, enjoy it, and have as much fun as you can.”
Star player Jeremy Katz, hailing from nearby Kings Park, also draws motivation from his hometown’s only Major League Baseball alumnus, Hall of Famer Craig Biggio. “I was really inspired by him coming from my tiny little hometown — nobody knows about Kings Park,” Katz said, expressing his desire to showcase local talent.
“Now, I want to show the world that there is talent here… I want to be the second guy to make it to the majors,” Katz declared, embodying the aspirations of many young athletes in the area.
