Armed with markers and baseballs, and with extra hats from other teams on top of their heads, it was an “amazing” experience, Southwest player Cooper Hastings said after getting his baseball signed.

For Spencer Torkelson, Tigers first baseman, going to the Little League World Series meant achieving a lifelong dream.

“I played Little League,” Torkelson said. “My team didn’t make it. The other team in my hometown did and I was so jealous.”

He said that it didn’t feel like it had been that long since he was a Little Leaguer.

“My goal is to let the kids know that hard work pays off,” Sammons said.

Advice was just one thing the preteen players wanted from the Major League Baseball players around them.

Some also wanted fist bumps and selfies. The Detroit Tigers mascot, Paws, got in a few pictures with fans.

“What’s up, guys?” Bryan Sammons, pitcher for the Tigers, said as he stepped off the plane. He was immediately greeted with high fives and team hats shoved in his hands. He ended up receiving hats for Canada and Mid-Atlantic before he even realized what they were.

Sammons said he was most looking forward to experiencing everything at the Little League World Series.

“It’s what every kid dreams of,” Sammons said. “I’m looking forward to seeing it as an adult.”

After the Southwest and Cuba teams accompanied the Tigers back to the Little League World Series Complex, the area was prepared for the New York Yankees to arrive.

Once the team started leaving the plane, both the Mountain and Latin America teams started cheering, “Let’s go, Yankees!” They held up their own signs, some with the Yankees logos and another with “Williamsport Loves the Yankees.” The Latin America team had baseball cards in their hands to get signed and the Mountain team had baseballs of different sizes with plenty of room to get autographs.

Nestor Cortes, Yankees pitcher, said that it’s great to have the impact the Major Little Baseball players have on the Little Leaguers.

“They’re big fans and today we’re here to be their fans,” Weaver said. “I wanted to compete here and now I feel like I’m part of it. It’s kind of a surreal moment.”

His advice to the Little Leaguers was “be in the moment.”

Luke Weaver, Yankees pitcher, said playing in the Little League World Series is probably the highest stage that most of the players have experienced so far, but he said there’s still even higher stages out there for them. He was looking forward to just having some quiet time with the teams.

“Hopefully bring some smiles,” Weaver said.

There was little room for the Yankee players to move and even as they tried getting on the buses, there were still more players looking for autographs and pictures. When outfielder Aaron Judge stepped off the plane, the Little Leaguers looked around at each other and chanted “Judge!”

Once the Major Little League players made it to the buses to drive over to the Little League World Complex, the Little Leaguers stood around comparing the autographs they received before joining them to, in Cortes’ advice, be in the moment.

New York Yankee Jazz Chisolm Jr. takes a selfie with a Little Leaguer from the team from Nevada at the Williamsport Regional Airport on Sunday. KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

New York Yankee Juan Soto talks with the Little Leaguers from Nevade shortly after the Yankees landed at the Williamsport Regioanl Airport on Sunday. KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The Little League team from Cuba poses with the Detroit Tigers Mascot "Paws" at the Williamsport Regional Airport on Sunday. KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette