Ozzie Albies, Curacao players shared moments at MLB Little League Classic
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) fields a ground ball before throwing to first base for an out in the third inning of the MLB Little League Classic vs the Milwaukee Brewers at Historic Bowman Field Sunday.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albie (1) throws to first base for an out in the first inning of the MLB Little League Classic vs the Milwaukee Brewers at Historic Bowman Field Sunday.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) fields a ground ball before throwing to first base for an out in the third inning of the MLB Little League Classic vs the Milwaukee Brewers at Historic Bowman Field Sunday.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albie (1) throws to first base for an out in the first inning of the MLB Little League Classic vs the Milwaukee Brewers at Historic Bowman Field Sunday.
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The trip to the South Williamsport complex for the Little League World Series is special and fun for all the Major League players who arrive each year prior to the MLB Little League Classic.
But Sunday's trip for Ozzie Albies of the Atlanta Braves was just a bit more special than other players this year. Albies grew up in Willemstad, Curacao and in his younger days, played for Pariba Little League.
He never got the chance to come to South Williamsport and represent Curacao, but he was able to get with the Curacao team on Sunday, talk with them and be on the field with the Pariba Little Leaguers from back home prior to Curacao's game.
"(It's) very special. I had time to enjooy with team Curacao and I was super pumped for the guys," Albies said after Atlanta beat the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday in the MLB Little League Classic, 4-2. "It was more special for me to play in the big league game and have them support me tonight."
Albies was hands down the favorite player for Curacao's players when at Boman Field, and they look up to Albies the way Albies looked up to Andruw Jones, another Willemstad-born player, when he was younger.
"I was 5-years-old when I met him for the first time and it was super special for me. I'd do anything on my side to have the answers they (Little Leaguers) need," Albies said. "I know they spent an hour in the dugout before game with me. Luckily I had time to chat and ask a lot of questions. I'll do anything I can with them to help them keep dreaming and keep believing."
That's what makes the trip to the World Series special for the Little Leaguers and big leaguers. The pros don't just watch the games and sign autographs, they listen and interact with the players and form bonds.
That's what Albies did to his hometown Little Leaguers, giving the Curacao team a memory they'll never forget.
"First thing I told them was to go hard and get the win today (against South Korea)," Albies said, joking it gave him bragging rights over a teammate. "But in all seriousness, I told them go for the win today and keep grinding and keep giving 100%. Don't think, just go play baseball like in Cuaracao. It's the same game.
"Their stadium is their version of a Major League stadium. Basically it's like coming into camp," Albies continued. "They'll be playing against all the great teams from around the world."
The Major Leaguers are heroes to their Little League counterparts, and Albies likely found a longtime fan-base back home in Willemstad with this Pariba Little League squad.
"It was cool to see him interact with them and to see a big leaguer from their country be hre and to see the kids atching us play a kids game," Albies' teammate Michael Harris II said.