Cookout, Parade Ease Little Leaguers Toward Series Opener

Published 08.16.2017

News
The Gallery at Penn College

Pennsylvania College of Technology once again helped embrace visitors to the Little League Baseball World Series, which begins Thursday and culminates in the title game on Sunday, Aug. 27. On the eve of play, the college hosted its ninth annual cookout for more than 350 Little League players, coaches, team "uncles," umpires and officials on the lawn outside the Bush Campus Center. Penn College also participated in Wednesday evening's Grand Slam Parade, which started near the Center for Business & Workforce Development and traveled down West Fourth Street to Market.


– Photos by Jennifer A. Cline, writer/magazine editor;
Tia G. La, student photographer
and Larry D. Kauffman, digital publishing specialist/photographer




 

 

 Teams spread out on the lush, late-summer green of a well-maintained campus.

Teams spread out on the lush, late-summer green of a well-maintained campus.

While his teammates toss beanbags instead of baseballs, a player looks to an eye in the sky.

While his teammates toss beanbags instead of baseballs, a player looks to an eye in the sky.

Series entrants swarm The Rock to claim their piece of posterity.

Series entrants swarm The Rock to claim their piece of posterity.

Members of President's Council greet players as they enter the picnic grounds on the west side of the Bush Campus Center.

Members of President's Council greet players as they enter the picnic grounds on the west side of the Bush Campus Center.

The Repasz Band, a perennial favorite wherever it plays, helps headline the parade's opening division.

The Repasz Band, a perennial favorite wherever it plays, helps headline the parade's opening division.

Sixteen teams and one overriding objective: a safe, orderly and memorable journey through downtown Williamsport.

Sixteen teams and one overriding objective: a safe, orderly and memorable journey through downtown Williamsport.

Tina M. Miller (standing at left) and Tom Speicher (standing at center) offer guidance to the student-athlete volunteers who would escort Little League teams throughout their time on campus.

Tina M. Miller (standing at left) and Tom Speicher (standing at center) offer guidance to the student-athlete volunteers who would escort Little League teams throughout their time on campus.

The Latin America team from Maracaibo, Venezuela, arrives to a warm welcome outside the Bush Campus Center.

The Latin America team from Maracaibo, Venezuela, arrives to a warm welcome outside the Bush Campus Center.

A New England player from Fairfield (Conn.) American Little League accepts high fives from the right and left.

A New England player from Fairfield (Conn.) American Little League accepts high fives from the right and left.

Women’s soccer player Lauren S. Herr, of Lititz, joins the welcoming crew.

Women’s soccer player Lauren S. Herr, of Lititz, joins the welcoming crew.

Luis Rodriguez, of The Bronx, N.Y., greets the Europe-Africa team from Emilia, Italy.

Luis Rodriguez, of The Bronx, N.Y., greets the Europe-Africa team from Emilia, Italy.

Great Lakes team members, from Grosse Point, Mich., proceed through the lineup of student-athletes.

Great Lakes team members, from Grosse Point, Mich., proceed through the lineup of student-athletes.

Paul L. Starkey, vice president for academic affairs and provost, makes members of the Sydney, Australia, team feel at home.

Paul L. Starkey, vice president for academic affairs and provost, makes members of the Sydney, Australia, team feel at home.

Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour (right) welcomes players from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., representing the West region. Joining her are Loni N. Kline, vice president for institutional advancement, and Patrick Marty, vice president for college relations.

Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour (right) welcomes players from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., representing the West region. Joining her are Loni N. Kline, vice president for institutional advancement, and Patrick Marty, vice president for college relations.

Brittany L. Mink, an applied management student and baking and pastry arts grad from Allentown, serves macaroni and cheese.

Brittany L. Mink, an applied management student and baking and pastry arts grad from Allentown, serves macaroni and cheese.

Players pose in and around a Penn College frame.

Players pose in and around a Penn College frame.

Great Lakes reps honor a pre-parade tradition by signing The Rock.

Great Lakes reps honor a pre-parade tradition by signing The Rock.

The latest rendition of the Wildcat mascot makes its debut for the VIP audience.

The latest rendition of the Wildcat mascot makes its debut for the VIP audience.

Murray (left) elicits laughs from Little League International President/CEO Steve Keener, President Gilmour and coach Howard.

Murray (left) elicits laughs from Little League International President/CEO Steve Keener, President Gilmour and coach Howard.

Players from the Caribbean team, traveling here from the Dominican Republic, pose with the Wildcat.

Players from the Caribbean team, traveling here from the Dominican Republic, pose with the Wildcat.

Murray chatted with many teams and obliged group photos, including the West region champions.

Murray chatted with many teams and obliged group photos, including the West region champions.

The Australia representatives take a photo with a mascot of their own.

The Australia representatives take a photo with a mascot of their own.

Erin N. Shaffer, a basketball player from Williamsport, is surrounded by players from the Asia-Pacific team.

Erin N. Shaffer, a basketball player from Williamsport, is surrounded by players from the Asia-Pacific team.

Teams mingle for a cross-cultural photo, with players representing Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, South Korea; and White Rock, British Columbia, Canada.

Teams mingle for a cross-cultural photo, with players representing Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, South Korea; and White Rock, British Columbia, Canada.

Bystanders juggle smartphones to capture once-in-a-lifetime photos for the teams.

Bystanders juggle smartphones to capture once-in-a-lifetime photos for the teams.

Players from Walla Walla, Wash., representing the Northwest region, gather for a photo in front of the college’s “step and repeat” banner.

Players from Walla Walla, Wash., representing the Northwest region, gather for a photo in front of the college’s “step and repeat” banner.

The Asia-Pacific and Japan teams gather around the Wildcat.

The Asia-Pacific and Japan teams gather around the Wildcat.

A player on the Southwest team, from Lufkin, Texas, finds respite.

A player on the Southwest team, from Lufkin, Texas, finds respite.

Hall of Famer Eddie Murray, who spent the bulk of his major league career with the Baltimore Orioles, gives the players a hand and encourages them to – above all – have fun.

Hall of Famer Eddie Murray, who spent the bulk of his major league career with the Baltimore Orioles, gives the players a hand and encourages them to – above all – have fun.

Southeast players, hailing from Greenville, N.C., put on their game faces for a beanbag toss.

Southeast players, hailing from Greenville, N.C., put on their game faces for a beanbag toss.

Murray shares a story with Wildcat athletes.

Murray shares a story with Wildcat athletes.

The Rock dons the autographs of youngsters who will capture the world’s attention over the next two weeks.

The Rock dons the autographs of youngsters who will capture the world’s attention over the next two weeks.

Tom O’Malley, who played for six teams during his nine-year major league career before a stellar six-year stint in the Japanese Central League, rallies the Japan team in the players’ own language. The third baseman was the league’s MVP in 1995. In recent years, the Montoursville resident has coached in Japan and served as the head softball coach at Loyalsock Township High School. He is a member of the Little League World Series Radio Network crew for this year’s event.

Tom O’Malley, who played for six teams during his nine-year major league career before a stellar six-year stint in the Japanese Central League, rallies the Japan team in the players’ own language. The third baseman was the league’s MVP in 1995. In recent years, the Montoursville resident has coached in Japan and served as the head softball coach at Loyalsock Township High School. He is a member of the Little League World Series Radio Network crew for this year’s event.

Penn College head baseball coach Chris Howard, who spent a great deal of time in Washington as catcher for the Seattle Mariners, chats with a player from Walla Walla, Wash.

Penn College head baseball coach Chris Howard, who spent a great deal of time in Washington as catcher for the Seattle Mariners, chats with a player from Walla Walla, Wash.

Players from the Japan and West teams, who shared a bus on the way to the picnic, go halves on a photo opportunity.

Players from the Japan and West teams, who shared a bus on the way to the picnic, go halves on a photo opportunity.

Penn College Pride rocks on!

Penn College Pride rocks on!

Wildcat athletes, coaches and the college president ride into a new era of NCAA membership.

Wildcat athletes, coaches and the college president ride into a new era of NCAA membership.

Penn College’s Baja SAE team finds city streets less challenging than the mud and dust they experienced during two impressive Midwest competitions in recent months.

Penn College’s Baja SAE team finds city streets less challenging than the mud and dust they experienced during two impressive Midwest competitions in recent months.

The Cheshire Cat's got nothin' on these grins, happily representing Wildcat Athletics along the parade route.

The Cheshire Cat's got nothin' on these grins, happily representing Wildcat Athletics along the parade route.

Friendly faces greeted Penn College passersby at a reserved viewing area for faculty, staff and students.

Friendly faces greeted Penn College passersby at a reserved viewing area for faculty, staff and students.

A priceless mascot, along Millionaires Row

A priceless mascot, along Millionaires Row

Sporting a hat worthy of several Penn College majors, a boy shows off his Wildcat magnet.

Sporting a hat worthy of several Penn College majors, a boy shows off his Wildcat magnet.

The college float travels into the 300 block of West Fourth Street ...

The college float travels into the 300 block of West Fourth Street ...

... where parade-watchers included Deborah K. Peters, a graphic designer at the college, and son Jack.

... where parade-watchers included Deborah K. Peters, a graphic designer at the college, and son Jack.

Greeting fans near the Lycoming County Visitors Bureau

Greeting fans near the Lycoming County Visitors Bureau

Basketball teammates Madeline P. Wenk (left) and Erin N. Shaffer add to the day's sunshine.

Basketball teammates Madeline P. Wenk (left) and Erin N. Shaffer add to the day's sunshine.

The photo subject snaps a memento of his own.

The photo subject snaps a memento of his own.

A study in teamwork

A study in teamwork

Collegial friendship, on the street and on the roof!

Collegial friendship, on the street and on the roof!

Wildcat swag, always popular with paradegoers

Wildcat swag, always popular with paradegoers

Front and center for the passing spectacle

Front and center for the passing spectacle

The roar of the crowd, Wildcat-style

The roar of the crowd, Wildcat-style

A youngster observes an impromptu Hug-a-Mascot Day.

A youngster observes an impromptu Hug-a-Mascot Day.

A high-five from a down-to-earth vantage

A high-five from a down-to-earth vantage

Among the float-riders is the aptly named Thomas S. Runner, a member of the college cross-country team.

Among the float-riders is the aptly named Thomas S. Runner, a member of the college cross-country team.

The Wildcat (represented at the event by Kayla M. Jackson, an applied health studies major) joins another student leader, Cassandra D. Henderson, enrolled in business administration: banking and finance concentration, on a high-profile stroll.

The Wildcat (represented at the event by Kayla M. Jackson, an applied health studies major) joins another student leader, Cassandra D. Henderson, enrolled in business administration: banking and finance concentration, on a high-profile stroll.

Manufacturing engineering technology student Trevor M. Clouser, behind the wheel of one of two Baja vehicles at the event

Manufacturing engineering technology student Trevor M. Clouser, behind the wheel of one of two Baja vehicles at the event

Softball player Taylor A. Krow proves equally at ease in the parade crowd as she is in the outfield.

Softball player Taylor A. Krow proves equally at ease in the parade crowd as she is in the outfield.