![]() ![]() "That's crazy, because I remember when I was sitting in that dugout."įrazier, who sparked a four-run second with a leadoff single, helped Toms River, New Jersey, win the 1998 title when he led off the game with a home run and struck out the final batter. "Pretty surreal because I walked into the dugout and they were getting ready to play a game and one of them was like, `Whoa, that's Scott Kingery!"' said the rookie infielder, who doubled in the fifth. Players and families from the 16 teams competing in the nearby LLWS packed into 2,500-seat Bowman Field, the 92-year-old home of the Phillies' Class A affiliate in the New York-Penn League.Īnd the spotlight shined on New York's Todd Frazier and Michael Conforto and Philadelphia's Scott Kingery, who are among 54 players who reached the majors after playing in the LLWS. "It's something I experienced for the first time since I was in Little League." "I thought the handshaking gesture was huge," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. "They were having a great time."Ĭarlos Santana hit a two-run homer for the Phillies, but Nick Pivetta (7-10) allowed six runs in 3 2/3 innings in Philadelphia's seventh loss in 11 games.Īfter the final out, players lined up across the diamond for a postgame tradition for kids that's never seen in the majors. ![]() "I had some cool interactions with the kids," Vargas said of his in-game dialogue. Philadelphia dropped into a three-way tie for the top NL wild card. ![]() Jeff McNeil added a two-run single to back Vargas (3-8) as the Mets claimed the second Little League Classic and prevented the Phillies from moving into first place in the NL East. Put a big league game in a tiny park full of 11 and 12 year olds, though, and those kinds of customs get tossed aside.Īmed Rosario had three hits and drove in three runs, and the New York Mets went from cheering on players in the Little League World Series to impressing the youngsters in an 8-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday night. These boys have been through some tough games, and I look for them to be the leaders on this team.”Ĭould we see Big Al go pro and hit dingers in the major leagues? Time will tell.WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Jason Vargas never talks to fans from the on-deck circle, just like major league teams never line up after a game and shake hands. “The team is led by three players from last year’s Mid-Atlantic regional team: Dylan Briggs, Joey Wall and Al Delia. Former Middletown coach told App that he viewed Big Al as one of his team’s leaders: Big Al came to national attention because of a video, but he was already a star in Middleton. ![]() “Now looking back, that was the best time in my life,” Big Al said. Big Al also appeared on numerous television broadcasts. “I get recognized all the time,” Big Al told Asbury Park Press in July 2019. “It’s so crazy.” He told the outlet that strangers often approached him asking for a photo, including members of opposing teams.īig Al capitalized on his fame, meeting NBA stars and catching a ceremonial pitch from former New York Mets’ third baseman Todd Frazier before a Williamsport contest. Big Al enjoyed the fame brought by his 2018 clip Middletown’s quest to reclaim the District 19 All-Star Tournament title begins in late June 2022, with Big Al likely to play a crucial role in the team’s success. There’s a confidence that comes with playing in a lot of high-pressure games.”Ĭonsidering Middletown’s success, we assume Big Al’s still getting home runs. “It’s been great to see,” St. When we get down by a couple runs, there hasn’t been any panic. “They’ve played a lot of postseason games, so there’s a lot of experience. Clair reiterated the team’s desire to win more silverware and stated that the players had learned to deal with high-pressure situations. “We were at a game in Freehold a couple of weeks and kids came up to the dugout in the middle of the game and asked, ‘Is that Big Al in there?’ He smiles a little and wants to focus on the game.” Clair, told the outlet that Big Al still gets recognized: Asbury Park Press caught up with the baseball star in July 2021 and reported that he was leading the Middletown Senior All-Stars on another Little League Baseball run.Īt the time, Middletown was undefeated and had won Section 3 and District 19 titles. Big Al enjoyed the fame brought by his 2018 clipĪs far as we can tell, Big Al is still hitting dingersīig Al is still hitting dingers several years after his rise to fame.As far as we can tell, Big Al is still hitting dingers. ![]()
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