Community comes together for Wiffle Ball

Aug 25, 2023

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentMLB Hall of Fame outfielder Alan Trammell takes a shot at pitching during a wiffle ball game between Dwell, a non-profit support organization, and the Australian Little League team on August 25, 2023 at Liberty Arena in Williamsport. The event was a partnership between UPMC and the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce.

Rain couldn’t stop the seventh annual Wiffle Ball game that took place Friday morning. This

year’s game between children helped by the local Dwell organization and Australia Little League, pitched by Major League Baseball Hall-of-Famer Alan Trammell, moved into Liberty

Arena.

“It’s a tradition,” said Patricia Jackson-Gehris, chief operating officer of UPMC in North Central Pa. and president of UPMC Williamsport. “It’s all about the kids and the community. This is what Little League is all about.”

Australian manager Brad Abel also called it a tradition because the Australian players have

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentMLB Hall of Fame outfielder Alan Trammell signs autographs for players at the end of a wiffle ball game between Dwell, a non-profit support organization, and the Australian Little League team on August 25, 2023 at Liberty Arena in Williamsport. The event was a partnership between UPMC and the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce.

participated for the past three years.

“They were keen as mustard to get out of the complex and come down to play,” Abel said.

The best part for him was watching the kids’ faces as they played.

Julius Zerbe, 13, of Bloomsburg, said it was his mom who told him about the game and how it

would help Dwell.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentMLB Hall of Fame outfielder Alan Trammell congratulates players at the end of a wiffle ball game between Dwell, a non-profit support organization, and the Australian Little League team on August 25, 2023 at Liberty Arena in Williamsport. The event was a partnership between UPMC and the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce.

“I play Little League,” he said. “This will be fun. It’s for a good cause. Mom said we’ll be able to help others.”

He figured playing Wiffle Ball would be pretty similar to playing baseball.

“They throw the ball and you hit it,” Zerbe said. “You just don’t hit it as hard.”

Before the game began, the Dwell participants stretched by touching their toes, running the

bases and doing jumping jacks. When the Little League World Series mascot Dugout and

UPMC mascot Will M. Sport arrived, they stopped for pictures.

During the game, Abel spoke with parents from Dwell about the adoption process in this

country.

“Back home, it’s very hard to adopt,” Abel said.

Dwell helps families in the process of fostering or adopting, Bridget Campbell, of Roaring

Branch, said.

“When we first started with foster care, we didn’t have Dwell,” Campbell said. “With our first

placement, our only placement, we didn’t eat for three days.”

All of the attention went into welcoming their new arrival, she said.

Campbell was part of the very beginning of Dwell, which focuses on supporting the families

during the placement time. She was brought on to share her experiences with the parent

support group made up of other foster parents and adoptive parents.

“(Dwell makes) the transition so easy,” Campbell said. “They give you the support you need

when you’re making an exciting change in your life.”

She and the other foster and adoptive parents were there cheering on their kids as they hit theball and got home runs while the Australian players overthrew the ball, tripped over each otheror just were stopped by Dugout.

For Trammell, coming to Williamsport had always been a dream of his, especially back when he

was playing Little League from 1967-69.

He said his reasoning for coming here now was just “to have a good time,” something he

wanted to encourage the kids to do too. Getting older is when it’s time to be serious. Being a kid means trying all of the sports and having a good time, he said.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentLittle League mascot "Dugout" offers a little coaching during a wiffle ball game between Dwell, a non-profit support organization, and the Australian Little League team on August 25, 2023 at Liberty Arena in Williamsport. The event was a partnership between UPMC and the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentA player for Dwell, a non-profit support organization, beats the play at first during a wiffle ball game between Dwell and the Australian Little League team on August 25, 2023 at Liberty Arena in Williamsport. The event was a partnership between UPMC and the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentTriplets Josh, Ryan and Raymond Vogel-Laughner play for team Dwell, a non-profit support organization, during a wiffle ball game with the Australian Little League team on August 25, 2023 at Liberty Arena in Williamsport. The event was a partnership between UPMC and the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce and included MLB Hall of Fame outfielder Alan Trammell as a special guest.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentMLB Hall of Fame outfielder Alan Trammell high-fives a player for Dwell, a non-profit support organization, during a wiffle ball game with the Australian Little League team on August 25, 2023 at Liberty Arena in Williamsport. The event was a partnership between UPMC and the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce.

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