Wednesday, August 13, 2025
photos by Rob Hinkal, social media specialist, and Alexandra Butler, photographer/photo editor
The Penn College Wildcat makes quick friends with the Asia-Pacific team, from Chinese Tapei, as teams enter the picnic area near the college's Thompson Professional Development Center.
Penn College treated the 20 competing Little League Baseball World Series teams to an afternoon of food and fun before the teams headed to the Grand Slam Parade that stepped off just short walk away from main campus. Also appearing in the parade was a Penn College float, featuring the academic offerings at the Earth Science Center campus.
During the picnic, a final chance to unwind before games started, the teams relaxed, played yard games, and met Hall of Fame pitcher Billy Wagner and Vanderbilt University head coach Tim Corbin, who both provided encouraging words to the players and their coaches.
Making it all happen were staff and students from Le Jeune Chef Restaurant, several support offices, and a wealth of student and staff volunteers who welcomed the teams to campus and Little League fans to Williamsport.
Ally A. Colon, a baking & pastry arts and applied management student from Philadelphia, serves a churro to a Japan team player.
Tumbling tower – a hit the world over (even Down Under).
A Caribbean Region player – from Aruba – shows nerves of steel.
Players from the Southeast team, of Irmo, S.C., see familiar faces from the college's Le Jeune Chef Restaurant, which serves the competitors three meals a day in the team dining hall at Little League International.
A Mountain player shows off a memento from the Australia team. The Mountain team is from Las Vegas.
Posing with Hall of Famer Billy Wagner (center), who spoke to the Little Leaguers during their on-campus picnic, are Penn College head baseball coach Chris Howard (left) and President Michael J. Reed.
Vanderbilt University head baseball coach Tim Corbin offers words of encouragement to the players.
It’s hard to tell who’s having more fun: the Little Leaguers or Hall of Fame pitcher Billy Wagner.
After mingling at the picnic, the Wildcat takes his position behind the controls of an excavator, the centerpiece of Penn College’s “Move Dirt – Play Ball – Make Tomorrow”-themed Grand Slam Parade float.
Nearly two dozen Penn College staff and students prepare to welcome the world to Williamsport.
Straight from “Mummers Row” in Philadelphia, the Woodland String Band joins the parade festivities.
The New England Region Champions, hailing from Braintree, Mass.
A player from the Caribbean team, which traveled from Aruba, throws a signed baseball into the crowd.
Williamsport Area High School’s Marching Millionaires.
Members of the college's highly successful archery team join the fun.
Fairfield, Conn., Little Leaguers sign balls tossed to them by the crowd. The team is representing the Metro Region.
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