A Long Island Little League team is one step closer to Williamsport, and players say a game-day phone ban has helped fuel the run.
A Long Island Little League team is riding its best season in 63 years, and the secret behind the run may be a simple one: no phones on game days. The Port Washington Legends, a squad of 11- and 12-year-old boys, are now two wins away from the Little League World Series after pairing a self-imposed phone ban with a championship push that has brought the town plenty to cheer about.
Third baseman Jack Gomez said the rule helps him stay on task from the moment the team gathers. He said putting the phone away keeps him focused on baseball instead of outside distractions. Assistant coach Anthony Theoharis, whose sons Drew and Luca play on the team, said the idea began during the New York state championship tournament in West Nyack in late July, when coaches started collecting the players’ devices five hours before first pitch and holding them until after the final out.
Theoharis described the routine as a kind of switch that helps the team settle in. He said that once the boys hand over their phones, they lock in and play better. At first, the players resisted, especially after spending the school year under a similar state-mandated restriction. But the results soon changed their minds. Theoharis said the team has not lost yet under the routine, and the approach helped carry Port Washington to the first New York state title in the program’s 63-year history.
That state championship sent the Legends into the regional round of Little League World Series play, which is being shown on ESPN this week. In Bristol, Connecticut, the team opened regional action with a 10-3 win over Lincoln, Rhode Island, on Saturday evening. The Legends were set to continue in the winners bracket against Bayonne, New Jersey, on Monday afternoon as they chased a berth to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, later this month.
“A Long Island Little League team is one step closer to Williamsport, and players say a game-day phone ban has helped fuel the run.”
Parents say the phone-free stretch has done more than sharpen focus. Neal Gomez joked that he should get “a few buckets” for home, while saying the bigger lesson is letting children be children and enjoy the game. Rikki Kien, the mother of shortstop Brandon, said the players have used the time to talk, joke around, and spend more natural face-to-face time together. She praised the coaches’ idea, saying the boys return to basics by having fun, being creative, and hanging out in one another’s hotel rooms.
The no-phone rule has not turned the team into tech holdouts. The players still spent time together on left fielder Carlo Cafferata’s PlayStation 5 during the state championship trip in Rockland County, and they also made room for Wiffle Ball and other activities instead of spending the day texting. Even a brief trouble spot at a pool became part of the run, after the boys were kicked out for going down a water slide together.
For the players, though, the message has stayed simple: put the devices aside and keep the attention on baseball. The team’s confidence has grown as the wins have piled up, and parents say the boys now hand over their phones with less resistance than before. The biggest test is still ahead, but the Legends have already turned a phone ban into part of a memorable championship run. For American readers, it is a reminder that discipline, teamwork, and a little old-fashioned fun can still go a long way in youth sports.
Frequently asked questions
Why did the coaches start the phone ban?
They wanted the players to stay focused on Baseball during tournament days. The phones are collected five hours before first pitch and returned after the game.
How has the team done under the rule?
Assistant coach Anthony Theoharis said the team has not lost yet since the routine began. The Legends won the New York state title and then opened regional play with a 10-3 victory.
What is the team playing for now?
The Legends are trying to win the Metro region and reach the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, later this month.
How have the players spent their off-field time?
Parents said the boys have been bonding in hotel rooms, playing Wiffle Ball, and even using Carlo Cafferata’s PlayStation 5 at the right times.
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