Penn College hosts Little League stars on eve of series

At Tuesday afternoon's welcoming picnic at Pennsylvania College of Technology, the team from Aruba captures a memory with two mascots: Little League's Dugout and Penn College's Wildcat.

Wildcat high-fives for the team from Tokyo, Japan ... ... and presidential fist bumps from Penn College's "team captain" Michael J. Reed. (On the receiving end here is a player from Illinois.) Wildcat softball player Mackenzie Weaver leads the team from Australia onto the college grounds. Next up: Nevada! And here we have Penn College's Chuck D. Crews Jr., assistant director for secondary partnerships, energetically escorting ... ... the team from New Hampshire! It's all fun and games for the players from Staten Island, New York. President Reed connects with a youngster from Venezuela. Two squads enjoy a Wildcat photo op: Taiwan in front and New Hampshire in back Young visitors from the Czech Republic A Wildcat welcome banner Let's eat! The team from Texas lines up for good grub. A happy "customer" from Canada Hospitality under the big tents Rolling out that all-American element: the good ol' hot dog Thumbs-up from the players and a coach from Hawaii Fab four (from left): Penn College baseball head coach Chris Howard, the Wildcat, Morris and Reed Games before the games! The team from Puerto Rico enjoys spikeball. Jenga for the win, uniting Australia, Illinois and Aruba ... ... and delighting Zach Bolduc from New Hampshire. Jumping for joy: it's a Penn College favorite – cornhole! Little League's Board of Directors Chairman Steven P. Johnson (right) greets Morris, who won 254 games in his 18-year big-league career. The Hall of Famer (who was also a five-time All-Star and four-time world champion) enjoys a photo op with young Dean Hamilton, representing Newtown, Pennsylvania. Players from Hawaii take part in the tradition of signing T-shirts. Oh, Canada! The Wildcat entertains a few northern neighbors. Montoursville’s Tom O’Malley enjoys time with the team from Japan. He played several seasons in the major leagues before becoming a star in Japan. In 1995, he was the Central League MVP and the Japan Series MVP. The kangaroo kids from Australia President Reed addresses the gathering. Morris engages the crowd. The crew from Illinois clamors for a 'Cat keepsake. Penn College baseball player Matt Bailor volunteers his time and expertise. A young "celebrity" from Australia gives an interview. Another tradition: signing the inside of each other's caps (a player from Nevada makes his mark for a new friend from Japan) Sports photographer and Penn College alumna Jessica L. Tobias takes a selfie with the college mascot. Tobias earned her graphic design degree in 2013 and resides in Texas but returns to Williamsport each year to pitch in for Little League. Good luck, umpires! Grand Slam Parade time! The Wildcat is joined on the Penn College float by Carol J. Counsil, Center for Academic Excellence assistant. The Horizon Federal Credit Union team is ready for action! Another community-minded crew stocked with giveaways: the Blaise Alexander family West Fourth Street teems with excitement. A Williamsport cheerleader greets the team from Australia A boy with a bargain! Courtney E. Dunne, coordinator of academic engagement, shares giveaways with parade fans. Players from Staten Island, New York take in the excitement along the way. A banner day for the Montoursville band Performing in style Aruba players revel in the celebration. A friendly float from the Katie Benson School of Dance Everyone loves Penn College stickers! Daniel J. Clasby, assistant dean of academic operations, works the crowd. Ideal August weather is enjoyed by all, including the canine kind Nick W. Henning, enrollment counselor, shares some Wildcat sweets. Also assisting the effort are Wildcat Athletics team members like Jazlynn Sheaffer (on left), a volleyball player. A player from Nevada catches a photographer's eye. A good sport! Cute kids take in the end-of-summer soirée. (And the guy in the Penn College Basketball T-shirt is Joe Simon, a Wildcat basketball alum and current coach of South Williamsport High School boys' varsity basketball!) Another lovely image of Counsil and the 'Cat Stitching together Williamsport's iconic tradition