News

Players from Pennsylvania, California compete in Challenger game

Before the 2026 Little League Challenger Division Exhibition game started, family members stood at the fence, cheering on their loved ones.

But once the Saturday morning matchup began, the people in the stands celebrated everyone on the field.

The Little League Challenger Program welcomes players with physical and intellectual challenges and for ages 4 to 18, or up to 22 if still enrolled in school. The Challenger Division Exhibition Game first began in 2001, welcoming two teams each year to play at Volunteer Stadium.

This year's teams were from Berwyn, Pennsylvania, and Oakley, California.

Friends and family members from both teams, as well as fans, filled the stands at Volunteer Stadium, encouraging every player's hit, catch and run.

Hallie Ambler, of Wayne, Pennsylvania, said she came to the game to cheer for the Berwyn-Paoli Angels team, and specifically, her son Colin.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I think my son would have the opportunity to play here," Ambler said.

She and her family stayed in Williamsport last year when her daughter competed in the Pennsylvania Junior Softball State Tournament in Turbotville. It gave them the chance to visit the World of Little League Museum and now they're back.

Colin began playing with the Angels in 2020. Before that, he played for the community Little League Team, but Ambler said it was time for a change.

"Coach Gary is great at meeting players where he or she is," she said.

When her son began playing on the team, he hit off a tee. Within just one season, he hit pitches, and the coach worked on moving further away from him.

Colin loves playing baseball and his mom has enjoyed watching all of the players on his team grow and achieve their goals, she said.

Both teams found out around April they would be making the trip to South Williamsport. Ambler was excited when she heard, but she didn't want to tell Colin right away because she knew he would be talking about it all summer. Eventually, it was time to share the news with him that they would once again be making the 3-hour drive to northcentral Pennsylvania.

For Annie Camarena, of Oakley, California, the trip took a little bit longer. They flew into Baltimore on Thursday and then drove the rest of the way. After giving the players time to unwind, they participated in the Drums Alive class held at the Williamsport YMCA. They also met players from the Pennsylvania College of Technology baseball team, she said.

For her son, PJ, it was strange coming here because he's used to flying to Disney, but at least he got to see his favorite character, Mickey Mouse, who came out in his captain gear once the game ended to give hugs and high fives to the players.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Camarena said. "I'm so proud and so pleased with the volunteers here and the amount of effort put into this. They just understand the kids and what the parents go through to make all of this happen."

Playing on the team has helped her son make lots of friends, some which she thinks will stick around for a lifetime, as well as new friends every year he plays.

Saturday morning, he was surrounded by those friends and everyone who came to cheer for the teams.

"He's all in," Camarena said. "He's awed by everything. He's really enjoying himself."