Wednesday, August 19, 2026
photos by Alexandra Butler, photographer/photo editor, except as credited
On Tuesday, Penn College offered a heartfelt welcome to the 20 teams playing in the 2026 Little League World Series, serving up a picnic for players, coaches, their hosts, and even the umpires.
The meal was prepared by the baking and culinary program’s Le Jeune Chef Restaurant, which is providing meals to the teams throughout the series at their home base in the Little League International complex.
The picnic, a chance for teams to interact in a relaxed setting before the games began on Wednesday, preceded Williamsport’s Grand Slam Parade, which stepped off near campus. Penn College’s parade float promoted the exceptional hands-on majors in its School of Nursing & Health Sciences.
WNEP-TV’s Mackenzie Aucker was among media attending the picnic. You can watch her report on the local ABC affiliate’s website.
The Mountain Region team, hailing from Henderson, Nevada, is welcomed to campus after they step off of the city bus that transported them from the Little League International complex in South Williamsport.
The Caribbean team, from the Dominican Republic, poses for a mealtime photo ...
... before warming up their arms with cornhole.
Players from the Japan team, of Tokyo, exchange fist bumps with Penn College President Michael J. Reed as he welcomes them to the college.
The Asia-Pacific team arrives.
The Wildcat joins the welcome crew, greeting players from Phenix City, Alabama, who are representing the Southeast Region.
Vanderbilt University baseball coach Tim Corbin, one of two guest speakers at the picnic, congratulates the teams and reminds them to soak in the Williamsport experience beyond the games. Corbin has twice led the Vanderbilt Commodores to the College World Series championship and has compiled over 1,100 wins in his career. Several of his current players played at the Little League Baseball World Series.
Former San Diego Padres first baseman Steve Garvey, a 10-time All-Star, 1974 National League MVP and four-time Gold Gove Award recipient, gives an inspiring talk. Garvey, the Grand Slam Parade grand marshal, set the National League Iron Man record by playing in 1,207 consecutive games.
Mildred Sanchez, a nursing student and resident assistant, hosts the Caribbean team, which hails from her home country: Dominican Republic.
Players from the Mountain and Asia-Pacific teams bond over spikeball.
Penn College’s Grand Slam Parade float passes through downtown Williamsport, as seen from the Journey Bank Community Arts Center. The parade annually attracts about 40,000 spectators. Photo by Steven M. Ault, manager of strategic marketing for the arts center.
From their parade float, players on the Southwest Region team, from Boerne, Texas, sign balls for spectators and toss them back.
The Wildcat greets fans along the parade route.
A group of Penn College lacrosse players are among student-athletes joining the college's parade entry.
The New England team, from Bridgewater, Massachusetts.
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