This LLWS team has a big league fan in McCann

NEW YORK — James McCann has accomplished a goal that youth baseball players all around the world dream of from the time they first pick up a bat and glove, spending nearly a decade as a Major League Baseball player.

But there’s one dream McCann never realized during his life as a ballplayer.

“I always wanted to play in the Little League World Series,” McCann said. “That was the dream as a 10-year-old; watching these 12-year-olds playing on TV, I wanted to play there.”

McCann threw his support behind this year’s team from Nolensville, Tenn., a town located just minutes from his home in Franklin. The Mets catcher had his camp reach out to the team mom, wanting to do something special for the kids living out a dream McCann never experienced himself.

McCann recorded a video to let the team know he was following its journey to Williamsport, Pa., a journey that ultimately ended in the U.S. championship title game, where it was eliminated by Hawaii on Saturday; Tennessee also lost the third-place game to Chinese Taipei, 2-0, on Sunday. McCann also sent gift bags for the players that included a Dick’s Sporting Goods gift card, Stance socks and Pit Viper Glasses.

“I thought I might as well let them know that somebody’s watching them,” McCann said. “I know how cool that would have been as a kid, to hear from a big leaguer while on that run, so I wanted to make that become a reality for them.”

This is the second consecutive year that McCann has paid close attention to the Little League World Series; his nephew, Myles McCarty, played last year with his team from Abilene, Texas, giving McCann a taste of what the event has to offer.

“I kind of got to live vicariously through him,” McCann said. “It was awesome. Hearing him tell stories about just being there, being around the other Little Leaguers, the dream they got to live out was pretty neat.”

McCann has watched a few of Nolensville’s games this year, and although he hasn’t met any of the kids, he hopes to arrange a get-together in the offseason at a local batting cage.

“I’m proud to be from the same area as them; they’re having a heck of a run and it’s been a lot of fun to follow,” McCann said. “They’re making memories for a lifetime. You talk to the guys in the big leagues that did play there and they have nothing but great things to say about their time at the Little League World Series.”