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Sliding down that hill: Children find Little League World Series tradition ‘fast,’ ‘fun’

By Mark Maroney 3 min read

It doesn't matter if the trip down the steep grassy hill behind the outfield at Howard J. Lamade Stadium results in a tumble into the dirt -- or if it rained, mud -- or it is so dry, you only travel a few feet and stop.

The bottom line of this time-honored tradition during the Little League World Series is to have a safe thrill and to make it fun.

"It's really fun," said Jack McCool, 8, of Selinsgrove, who described his first experience at heading down the hill on his stomach face first Tuesday before he would catch an elimination game between Japan and Mexico at nearby Volunteer Stadium.

What's it like coming down the hill? the Sun-Gazette asked McCool and some of his friends who were at the series. "Looks a little scary, is it?"

"It was fast and scary," and with a "bump in the middle," he said.

The hill, truly, is not for the faint at heart – as the incline is arguably steep, and when there are downpours, slick enough to become a full-on workout.

Statistics indicated the terraced incline has a roughly 30- to 35-degree angle for about a 60% to 70% grade. The turns at Daytona International Speedway -- which obviously are not grass and dirt -- are banked by comparison at 31 degrees.

Jack's sister, Olivia, 10, said she sat down on her piece of cardboard for her ride down Lamade's hill. She estimated the ride to be at least 50 feet for a good one. She, too, was having a blast.

"It's fun to get to be here with friends and family," she said.

They are Atlanta Braves fans, and, coincidently, the Braves took their turns sliding down the hill at Lamade along with the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday before the teams headed over to Journey Bank Park at Historic Bowman Field for the Little League Classic won by the Braves 4-2.

Joining the McCools for the hill slide were their friends Charlotte Balum, 10, and Harper Henry, 2, Ellie Henry, 6, and Alaya Balum, 5.

So, have you been here before? The Sun-Gazette asked them. "No," they said.

Rylan Smith, 7, of Corning, New York, had a dirt-stained, short-sleeve shirt after taking a tumble onto the grassy surface.

He admitted was on what he called a cardboard "train." The cardboard was arranged so one or two kids could sit in it and slide down the hill.

"Have you ever been here when it's muddy?" he was asked.

"No," he said.

"Would you go down it if it's really muddy?

"Nah," he said, before pointing toward his brother, Paxton, who was in the train and about to slide down the hill.

Although most of the kids use cardboard, there are some who bring plastic sleds or, when it's raining, break out a poncho and use it to slide.

Starting at /week.