WILLIAMSPORT, LYCOMING COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — It's a yearly tradition in Lycoming County that reaches around the globe.
28/22 News Reporter Avery Nape brings us a look at the sights and sounds of the day, as well as the team from Pennsylvania representing the Mid-Atlantic region in this year's series.
For many, the Grand Slam Parade marks the beginning of one of baseball's biggest spectacles of the year- but for those teams playing in the Little League World Series, it's the start of so much more."
The 19th grand slam parade kicked off in Williamsport Tuesday afternoon- but not before the competing teams had a chance to get acquainted.
"We're all from different parts of the world, and we were all brought together for the same reason. We like the same hobby," Mid-Atlantic catcher, pitcher, and second base player Justin Shaw said.
Making up those 20 teams, representation from 44 states and 29 different countries across the globe, many of them traveling hours to be here.
Representing the mid-Atlantic region is a team from Chester County, Pennsylvania.
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"You talk about it, you think about it, you don't think it's gonna happen- but here we are. The kids are here, they made it happen, and you know, I hope they're enjoying it and making the most out of it. It's certainly a dream come true for them, and it's a, you know, a top memory that they'll have for a lifetime," Mid-Atlantic Team Manager Mike Shaw explained.
The players 28/22 News spoke to say they've been working towards this goal for the last two years.
Some had a feeling they'd make it, others couldn't have imagined it in their wildest dreams.
"Did you ever think you'd be here?" Nape asked.
"No. It's always been a dream, but we've always just been putting in the grind," Justin replied.
"I thought after our 10U season when we went all the way, I had a pretty good feeling that we could do this," second and third base player and catcher Marek Kalavik told 28/22 News.
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This is the 5th year in a row that a team from Pennsylvania has represented the mid-Atlantic region.
Those players, along with every other team, got a taste of what it's like to play in the big leagues, signing baseballs for fans along the road and being the center of attention.
With the effort they put into getting here, it's safe to say that attention is well-deserved.
"We just came together, we have so much friendship we, we're just basically family now. And it's really, if you tried to pull us apart, we can't do that," Kalavik stated.
"I mean, we've practiced almost every day in the summer for this, and we rise to the occasion in each game," Justin added.
Game one kicks off on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. with an international game between Puerto Rico and Latin America regions.
The first United States game begins at 3:00 p.m. between the Mountain and the Great Lakes region.
