As he watched a particular group of Glenmoore Eagle Little Leaguers practice, something became evident which he shared with manager Michael Shaw.

“I told Mike when these kids were 8-years-old that this was a special group,” Podvia, the league president said. “I’ll never forget that conversation because it’s coming to fruition as we speak.”

And in what a dramatic way.

Podvia certainly was right. And special might be an understatement because the core of those players formed the foundation for one of 2025’s top 20 Little League teams. Glenmoore Eagle from Upper Uwchlan Township, Pennsylvania is competing at the Little League World Series for the first time and made its Series debut Thursday night against Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Pensylvania players sign autographs after the opening ceremonies of the 2025 Little League World Series at Volunteer Stadium on Wednesday,.

What a four-year ride it has been.

“At this point, they’ve obviously surpassed all our hopes and dreams,” said Podvia, whose son Heath Podvia is one of the 12 all-stars. “The same things that stood out now still stand out. They do everything well from fielding to hitting to pitching.”

“Me and the other two coaches (Bill Mackiewicz and Brad Mercer) have coached most of these kids since they were 6 and 7-years-old,” Shaw said. “It’s a tight-knit group. Everyone is like a big family.”

That family has grown stronger and tighter over the years. This team excelled early and often. It highlighted that ascension by capturing the 10U Eastern Region championship two years ago, one which included 13 teams from the Mid-Atlantic, Metro and New England regions.

Still, neither the players, nor the coaches and families every viewed that as the final destination.

The climb continued and so did the relentless work. The team knew that past success guaranteed nothing going forward. It always was about getting better. The Series was the ultimate destination, so no matter how many trophies they collected, the Glenmoore Eagle all-stars remained hungry.

“They all work tirelessly all year. They’re going to fielding clinics at Malvern Prep and taking hitting lessons between practicing,” Shaw said. “They are working non-stop. It’s not like it was when we were growing up. These days baseball is most of the year-round. It’s a full-time gig and these boys take pride in what they do.”

They sure have done a lot.

Upper Uwchlan Township entered the Series undefeated, going 17-0 and winning more games than any of the 20 qualifiers other than Massachusetts. Just getting out of rugged District 28 is a chore and Pennsylvania often features one of the toughest state tournament fields in the Eastern Region. And yet, Upper Uwchlan Township outscored the opposition, 129-16.

Obviously, it has not been as easy as the margin indicates but it remains mighty impressive. Complementing the depth, skill, drive and selflessness is a hard-nosed mentality. When it has been pushed hard, Upper Uwchlan Township has answered like Rocky Balboa and hit back harder. And that helped a small league featuring approximately 350 players, tower like the William Penn Statue in nearby Philadelphia throughout the Little League World.

“Their grit stands out,” Shaw said. “They never give up. They’ve been down in a few games and there’s no quit in them. They find a way to figure it out and grind it out.”

Upper Uwchlan Township is about 20 minutes from Philadelphia and the way it plays the game has endeared itself to not just its community, but areas throughout that region who always admire tenacious fighters. But it’s not just how these all-stars play the game which has earned them accolades at every stop along the journey this summer. It’s also how they have conducted themselves on and off the field.

Former opponents now are among the team’s biggest cheerleaders as are volunteers from district, sectional, state and regional tournament venues.

Players have often interacted with the Challenger teams and have shined a positive light on their league which goes well beyond all the wins. Whatever the future holds for upcoming Glenmoore Eagle Little League teams, this one has built a strong foundation for them to build upon whether they win tournaments or not.

“As far as their play on the field, they are 100 % role models in terms of how they play, but more importantly, they are very good representatives of our area, our league and our parents,” Podvia said. “They have made a lot of friends from the other teams and the folks in the East Region were telling us how well-behaved they were. That means a lot.”

Upper Uwchlan Township has brilliantly balanced being ferociously competitive with being community ambassadors. That is why this summer means so much to the team. It has wanted this dream for so long not just for itself, but for each other and their supporters.

This team was pegged for greatness at an early age but it took all the players’ effort to fulfill that potential. All the work and sacrifice led to a moment like Upper Uwchlan Township encountered when it faced Maryland in the Mid-Atlantic championship.

There, the Glenmoore Eagle Little Leaguers left an indelible mark on league history. After capturing the league’s first state championship a few weeks earlier, they lived their dream, celebrating a 7-1 victory.

“To see the joy in the kids’ faces and the excitement they felt was amazing. To chase this for so long and to see the expression on their faces after the game was priceless,” Shaw said. “We went back to the dorm and I saw a lot of tears from the boys which caught me off guard. It meant so much to them. Without saying it in so many words, you could see it and feel it through their emotion and demeanor.”

When a moment five years in the making came its way, this team again owned it. And now they can cherish it forever.