DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Zach Little of the Williamsport Crosscutters watches his team mates take batting practice before Thursday’s game against the Black Bears at Journey Bank Ballpark. Little is a Corrections Officer from Watsontown and spent the pre-game time watching the other Cutters fielding balls and hitting with a large smile on his face.

Over the course of the Williamsport Crosscutters’ game day promotions, few draw more intrigue than the annual “Cutter for a Day” competition.

In this promotion, fans can sign up to win a one-day contract to play for the Williamsport Crosscutters. The package includes the newly touted Cutter their own jersey and locker in the clubhouse, a chance to take batting practice, a gameday check, and a spot in the dugout throughout the game.

This year Zach Little of Watsontown, received that opportunity with a one day professional deal.

Little, a 39-year-old Correctional Officer, is very familiar with both the Cutters and America’s pastime.

“I basically just played Little League until I was 17 or 18-years-old,” said Little before batting practice. “Now I just coach my son’s little league team.”

Zach’s son, who is also named Zach, plays in the Warrior Run Little League that his dad coaches. In fact, it would be “Little Zach” that became the catalyst for him signing up.

“We came to a game a couple weeks ago, and my son saw it on the board,” echoed Little. “He said ‘Dad, I want to see you out on that field.’ When I got the call, I honestly couldn’t believe it at first. My son still doesn’t believe it, so he’ll see it tonight!”

Little is hard to stand out from the rest during batting practice, wearing the Cutters’ number 37 batting practice jersey with a bat in hand, it looked as if he was just going through the motions.

“It was amazing,” described Little when walking onto Bowman Field for the first time as a player. “Just seeing the guys going through the routine, it was pretty cool.”

At the time speaking with him, Little was gearing up for his first batting practice with Williamsport- the only time he showed any real nerves.

“I haven’t swung a bat in a long time, so we will see how it goes,” he said.

When stepping up to the plate, Little continued to impress. Supported by Cutters players in the field, Little would stay on top of the ball in his first session with multiple grounders down the third base side. The loudest roar would come in his second session, when he found barrel on a bloop to left field that would have been a hit in regulation.

For Little, the experience felt like a full circle moment.

“I came when I was little,” reminisced Little. “It’s awesome seeing them through the years.”