Upper Providence Little Leaguers soaking in…
Upper Providence Little Leaguers soaking in Williamsport experience, ready for first game
The Upper Providence Little League team poses in their Mid-Atlantic uniforms outside Howard J. Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, Pa. The team will play its first game of the Little League World Series on Friday at 1 p.m. (Courtesy Upper Providence Little League)
Upper Providence Little Leaguers, from left, Ryan McVey, Jack Rambo, Carter Bunn and Aidan Ludwig poses in front of the bracket at the 2018 Little League World Series. (Courtesy Ben Ludwig)
By Owen McCue | omccue@pottsmerc.com | The Pottstown Mercury
PUBLISHED: August 19, 2021 at 8:59 p.m. | UPDATED: September 25, 2021 at 8:48 a.m.
Upper Providence Little Leaguers Ryan McVey, Jack Rambo, Carter Bunn and Aidan Ludwig wore the Mid-Atlantic team jerseys as fans at the Little League World Series three years ago.
The group will put on the maroon, blue and white uniforms in Williamsport once again Friday at 1 p.m. when the Mid-Atlantic champion faces the Northwest Region runner-up (Lake Oswego, Ore.)
This time McVey, Rambo, Bunn, Ludwig and the rest of their Upper Providence teammates will represent the region on the field at Volunteer Stadium when they begin their own Little League World Series run
"I think it will be crazy because I've always watched the Mid-Atlantic team play," Rambo said. "It will be crazy because everyone else is seeing us play now."
"I remember the teams walking down in their uniforms and all that stuff and knowing it will be us soon is kind of cool," McVey said.
There are 16 Little League teams in Williamsport – all from the United States this year as COVID precautions prevented international teams from making the trip. Each region from the U.S. has two representatives.
The Upper Providence Little League team booked its spot at Williamsport last Thursday when it defeated New Jersey (Toms River East) in the winner's bracket of the Mid-Atlantic Regional in Bristol, Conn.
Last Saturday, UP defeated the same New Jersey team, which will be the region's other representative, to win the Mid-Atlantic championship. They were the first Pennsylvania team to accomplish the feat since Taney and Red Land went to the World Series in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
Red Land won the United States championship in 2015 after its runs through the Pennsylvania and Mid-Atlantic tournaments.
"When we used to watch it, you could see the expressions on the kids' faces and seeing how excited they are," McVey said. "That means I'm pretty excited to play."
UP headed straight from Bristol to Williamsport on Sunday where McVey, Rambo, Bunn and Ludwig returned to the place they dreamed about coming back to a few years prior.
After checking in to their dorms, the group got their jerseys and gear like, bags, cleats, bats and catcher's equipment. McVey said that was his favorite part.
They then went to the hill at Howard J. Lamade Memorial Field where the returnees explained to their teammates there are typically thousands of fans sitting during a normal season. Only families and others affiliated with the team are allowed to watch the games this year due to COVID precautions.
"It was really cool because we knew we were playing here," Rambo said. "I always dreamed of playing here."
Upper Providence and the rest of the teams get two hours of practice time everyday. The team got the chance to practice at Howard J. Lamade Stadium – by far the nicest venue they've ever played baseball on.
"It was crazy," Ludwig said. "It's just really like well-kept. It's like a college stadium"
"It's pretty much perfect," UP coach Ben Ludwig said.
Like they did at the Mid-Atlantic Regional in Williamsport, the Upper Providence Little Leaguers have kept themselves busy in their free time with games like whiffle ball, spike ball and ping-pong. They also get pool time.
Monday was also filled with time spent with the ESPN crews doing background interviews and filming player introductions for the broadcast.
"A lot of people say it's the best experience of their life," McVey said. "Right now, it's already feeling like that and we haven't even played a game."
The actual baseball will start Friday and the Upper Providence kids hope to continue the roll they've been on.
As the stakes grew throughout the summer, UP players and coaches made sure having fun remained the center of their focus.
When they take the field at Volunteer Stadium on Friday, with family in attendance, many others watching on TV and cameras all around, they don't think it will be any different.
"We just gotta play our game," Aidan Ludwig said. "We don't feel any pressure."
"Just act like it's a normal game," McVey said.
Owen McCue | Reporter