‘Do it for each other’: Lycoming College ballplayers lend helping hand at Little League World Series
Caiden Helmrich of Williamsport and other members of the Lycoming College Baseball team serve up cheese steaks at a stand at the Little League World Series. The players were enjoying themselves cracking jokes as they worked at the stand. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Members of the Lycoming College Baseball team serve up cheese steaks at a stand at the Little League World Series. The players were enjoying themselves cracking jokes as they worked at the stand. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Caiden Helmrich of Williamsport and other members of the Lycoming College Baseball team serve up cheese steaks at a stand at the Little League World Series. The players were enjoying themselves cracking jokes as they worked at the stand. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Members of the Lycoming College Baseball team serve up cheese steaks at a stand at the Little League World Series. The players were enjoying themselves cracking jokes as they worked at the stand. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
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After a long hiatus, Lycoming College baseball team, the Warriors, got back in the swing of things in 2022, and now the reconstituted team are lending a helping hand at the Little League World Series, as they staff the complex's concessions stands.
"In the early 70s, the college decided to shut the program down," said head baseball coach Rick Oliveri, who was hired in 2021 to revive the team.
"It's been a lot of fun and very exciting. We have kids that believe in building something special; that do it for each other; that enjoy being in Williamsport; that love being at Lycoming College; that are really growing together and creating a legacy," he said.
Oliveri said the support from the community and college has been "first class."
"Our alumni base has been second to none. Anywhere I've been, I would hold up the Williamsport community and the Lycoming College community against any of them with support and pride," Oliveri said.
The idea of holding a fundraiser was first raised when Oliveri took up the position.
Among the many groups looking for volunteers, Oliveri decided to answer the call from Delaware North, a hospitality and food management company based out of Buffalo, N.Y., which operates the concession stands at the series.
"It's a way for our kids to be involved, and raise money for our program," the coach said.
"We want to provide a top level college baseball experience, and in order to do that, you gotta raise some money on the side," he said.
Despite the need for funding, Oliveri said that the money being raised comes in second to the experience.
"They love being here. They love the environment, and it's a chance for them to be together and get to know each other and build bonds before they're rushing off to class and practice every day," Oliveri said.
"I love it," said catcher, outfielder and first baseman Greg Wirin, who played Little League for Ocean Township, New Jersey, as a youth.
"My freshman year, there were about 14 of us on the team that volunteered here, and that was my first time at the Little League World Series, and it was awesome," Wirin said.
"It was just an experience. It was like watching little professionals," he said, likening the atmosphere to that of the major leagues.
"I just love being out here. It's just fun, and it's a really good way to bond with my teammates," Wirin said.
"Everybody on the Little League side of things has been fantastic. If it wasn't Delaware North, we'd be here volunteering, doing something else," Oliveri said.
The coach said this is also a great opportunity to show off the team to the community.
"If we work hard and if we carry a good presence about us here, people will notice and want to help us out," he said.
That help is very much appreciated as the team works to put the finishing touches on their as yet to be named new field, affectionately referred to as the Lycoming baseball turf project at Brandon Park, a $5.5 million project.
The field will include all new turf, dugouts and batting cages.
"I think that what we've done in the community has helped the college be able to move forward with this project," Oliveri said, adding that they hope to showcase the field during the upcoming fall season.
"We haven't been able to play on a field of our own," Oliveri said.
"We've been kind of vagrants, if you will, playing on a turf football field, or borrowing a high school field for our practice," he said.
"In year one, we used Bowman Field for a few games," Oliveri said.
The new field will also be a major boost in recruitment, according to the coach.
"High school students and transfer students that visit our campus will see how serious we are about being competitive, and providing a first class college baseball experience," Oliveri said.