Phillies’ big kids on hand to support Media’s Little Leaguers

By Evan Wheaton

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT — If Media’s inclusion in the 2023 Little League Baseball World Series wasn’t enough already, another wave of Delaware County fandom washed over Williamsport’s Little League complex on Sunday.

The Little League Classic, an annual night game between major league clubs, takes place at Muncy Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field each tournament. This year, it was the Phillies and Washington Nationals’ turn to keep up that tradition.

For television feel-good purposes, players from both teams are brought into the Little League complex on the day of the game. By coincidence, that meant District 19, Pennsylvania state and Mid-Atlantic Regional champion Media Little League found themselves being cheered on Sunday by the likes of Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Brandon Stott and others in Phillies red, mixing right in there with Media’s “regulars” in the stands.

Following a 7-2 loss to Metro champion Rhode Island, Media’s players spent the afternoon interacting with their favorite players before being invited to watch the big game. All over the complex between Lamade and Volunteer stadiums, the Little Leaguers had autographs and pictures with some of their idols.

For the Media fans and other Phillies fans on the scene helping to cheer their team on, the day was a little muddied after the team was eliminated from the tournament by Smithfield, Rhode Island. The major leaguers arrived during the Mid-Atlantic’s game against Metro, a sea of red and white Phillies gear flooding the fan section along the first base side.

“We would’ve been a lot happier if we won,” Media coach Tom Bradley said, laughing. “I mean, they’ll get over it. They’re kids, they’re 12-year-olds, they get to play baseball next year.”

While Media was battling Washington D.C. through six hitless innings during the Mid-Atlantic Regional final in Bristol, Conn., the Phillies were playing 200 miles away at home. Once Trevor Skowronek hit a walk-off two-run home run, the Phillies displayed a congratulatory message across the Citizens Bank Park videoboard to honor the berth to Williamsport.

That support from the pros hasn’t been exclusive to the Phils.

“We got some, I don’t know what you call them, FaceTimes, videos or something from Nick Sirianni, the Eagles coach, (Nick) Nurse from the Sixers and Rob Thompson from the Phillies,” Bradley said. “They all reached out and did a little video saying they’re supporting us when they get up here and when we get back to Media.”

The day was one of anticipation among Media’s players. On top of playing on the biggest stage in Little League Baseball, they knew their idols wouldn’t just be watching them, but rooting for them to represent Philly area baseball.

All that time spent watching their favorite players on TV, the roles were reversed. It was Media’s turn to be watched, and in person rather than on a screen.

“It’s going to be awesome just knowing they’re rooting for us,” Media catcher Nate Saleski said following his club’s win over Maine on Saturday. “It’ll be really fun.”

First baseman Trevor Skowronek added, “It’ll be just really cool meeting them. Afterward, either way (win or lose), we’ll still be able to meet them. It’ll be a really cool experience for them to cheer for us.”

Ahead of the MLB Little League Classic, all Mid-Atlantic apparel at the store was sold out. Troves of Pennsylvania natives, particularly natives of Delaware County, joined that support of Media.

The craze was warranted. Media had reached the Little League Baseball World Series for the first time ever, and was the third team from Delaware County to ever qualify for the tournament, the first since Newtown-Edgmont in 1967.

With a 1-2 record during Media’s stay, the little team from the Philly suburbs is set to return home to a community with open arms.

“It’s really cool having them here. I don’t know how it’s going to help them as far as when we go back home, it’ll be awesome,” Bradley said. “Having them here, we would’ve liked to send them home with a win.”