The Burrillville Little League Major Division all-star team, making their first trip to regionals in over five decades, entered the Metro regional opener with high hopes and anticipation, eager to showcase their talent on a larger stage.

Their initial moments in the game against St. James-Smithtown (N.Y.) at Breen Field Saturday night were indeed promising, as Burrillville managed to place two runners in scoring position during the very first inning, threatening an early lead.

However, the New York ace, Jeremy Katz, demonstrated remarkable composure and skill, navigating out of the early jam to keep Burrillville off the scoreboard, effectively stifling their offensive momentum for the remainder of the contest.

A significant setback occurred when Burrillville righty Jace Detonnancourt, who had pitched 2.2 innings and allowed only two runs (just one earned), suffered an arm injury, contributing to an eventual 18-0 defeat in the winners’-bracket semifinal.

Despite the disheartening loss, the Burrillville squad has little time to dwell, as they are scheduled to return to the baseball diamond Sunday night at 7 o’clock, facing New Jersey champion Jackson Holbrook in a crucial elimination game.

In Saturday’s challenging matchup, Detonnancourt also shone offensively, accounting for two of Burrillville’s mere three hits, while Logan Rourke added a one-out single in the fifth inning, marking the team’s final contact against the dominant New York pitching.

The combined efforts of two St. James-Smithtown relievers saw them strike out the final five Burrillville batters, securing Katz’s win after he allowed just two hits and impressively struck out nine over 4.1 innings, asserting New York’s pitching dominance.

Coach Santelli reflected on the competitive nature of regional play, emphasizing that at this advanced stage, every team boasts exceptional talent and strong pitching rotations, making scouting and preparation a formidable challenge.