Above: The ball players pose for a quick shot. Fairfield American, state and New England champions
This summer, the team that couldn’t win, suddenly became the team that couldn’t lose. Fairfield American Little League Manager Mike Randazzo said the memory etched in stone from the team’s run to the Little League World Series is the team’s District 2 Championship, which it captured in June. “We didn’t win anything the previous two years,’’ Randazzo says. “Not districts, not a summer tournament, nothing. Our goal was to win the district and see where we could go.”
Fairfield American rolled through state and New England competition, compiling an 18-0 record. Randazzo’s Boys of Summer won three games at the LLWS before eventually being eliminated by the U.S. champion from Lufkin, Texas. They finished third in the country as Fairfield American represented New England at the LLWS for the third time since 2010. “Not a day goes by where I don’t think about what these boys accomplished,’’ Randazzo says. “I don’t think the players realize the enormity of what they accomplished.”
Randazzo enjoyed a long journey during his playing days, which ended after a brief minor league career. “Nothing compares to this,’’ he says. “I’m with my son (Leo), my family, my close friends. It’s magical.”
BY THE NUMBERS
3 TIMES
New England Regional Championships and 6 State Titles and 7 District II crowns
3 COACHES
Thanks to: Righter, Rivera and Randazzo—for the season and the post-season tour.
14 FAMILIES
”The commitment of the families was amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it. All fourteen families were all in. It was like I had fourteen sons for the summer. We didn’t want to see it end.”
—Mike Randazzo, manager
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