The Little League World Series is underway. A few days in, and we are still smiling. Thursday’s rains dampened a few spirits. No worries. It will be a very festive yet busy weekend. You know us locals may take this for granted. But the Little League World Series is an awesome experience. My first was back in 1989. Tons of autographs and candids. I have met so many celebrities.
My relationship with Little League only grew when I started scribing for the Webb Weekly — several stupendous stories. I am known for being dramatic. I am always looking for an opportunity to become famous. This desire only increased with the Major League LL Baseball Classic. A few of my tales captured some hardware.
This will be the 9th MLB Little League Classic. Hard to believe. No. I did not score a ticket in 2026. I always laugh when people call. I am out of the loop, kids. I used to be cool. Been there, done that. I was in the stands for two. They were fantastic. But the games I remember were when I was outside the windscreen fences. Hundreds of clicks from all over the planet.
The first showcase was in 2017 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals. It was a great day for everyone involved. The teams arrived early and spent some quality time with the Little Leaguers. They took in the sights and sounds of Lamade and Volunteer. The smiles and interactions were amazing. That evening, the Major Leaguers played a game in front of the kids at Historic Bowman. I was an incredible atmosphere. It exceeded everyone’s expectations.
Yes. I had my doubts. Many of us did. There was a major buzz when our hometown field underwent a major facelift. The City kicked in some cash, and MLB donated thousands. Rumors quickly spread. It was bedlam. Memorial Park turned into Area 51. I tried really hard. No tickets for Coach that year. I took matters into my own hands. I watched that first Classic from my kayak. True story. I have the pictures and retweets to prove it. My description of trying to catch a foul ball from a boat in Lycoming Creek went viral.
That little write-up actually scored us two seats in 2018. Steve Keener is the man. He gave me an A for effort. Young Jensen and I were invited to sit with the boys from the Asian Pacific. We were three rows behind the New York Mets. Great experience. We didn’t understand a single word, but we enjoyed the interaction with our new friends. I didn’t get the call in 2019. It’s cool. Jensen and his friends were there. MLB and Little League will invite some local teams to take in the game. Jensen was everywhere. He had better seats than Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez. My son was a magnet. My phone constantly buzzed every time he showed up on television. One of the excerpts is still being used in 2026 Classic cameo. Check it out. It is currently being played on ESPN between innings.
I caught a beautiful bass during the 2020 Classic. The water was too low for my kayak. I parked at Weis Markets and fished downstream. I paused for the starting lineups and the National Anthem. I threw a few casts as the sun finally set. No need for a headlamp as the brand-new lights of Bowman Field created a surreal experience. It felt like I was fishing on Mars. I hooked into a solid bronzeback, and I scored a once-in-a-lifetime photo. My fish with Historic Bowman in the backdrop. Caught during the second inning of the Major League Baseball LL Classic. Goosebumps.
I struck out with the 2023 MLB Classic. My media credentials were denied. Maybe I was flagged. I was only kidding about those two tickets on Facebook Marketplace. I also swung and missed in the Disgruntled Residents of Lycoming County Lottery. That column was hilarious. I thought it was funny. It turned many heads. Perhaps another Pulitzer. I really haven’t pushed the envelope since. It’s cool. Jensen and I fished last year. It was grand. Who knows what we will do in 2026. No tickets. No problem. I will watch it at home. Or perhaps we will do something fun. The jury is still out. I do know the year’s Classic will be another home run. Cheers.
