DOWNTOWN WILLIAMSPORT HITS A "GRAND SLAM"

Downtown Williamsport definitely hit a grand slam home run tonight with the 3rd Annual Grand Slam Parade. More than 25,000 spectators turned out to line the streets of downtown Williamsport to to welcome the 16 teams participating in this year's Little League World Series.

Williamsport media demonstrated the ideals of teamwork when Gary Chrisman of Clear Channel's WKSB and Ted Minier of Backyard Broadcasting's WZXR and WILQ (local competing radio celebrities) united to act as co-hosts perched on an elevated platform to announce each division and each float of the two hour parade.

The participation of all 16 Little League World Series teams in the parade is a coup for the downtown effort as the players historically have been sequestered in the Creight Hale International Grove for security reasons. Each team rode on a float in the parade accompanied by their coaches and escorted by their volunteer "uncles" (local volunteers who escort the teams all throughout the entire week of the the Little League World Series). All the players seemed to enjoy the excitement, attention, and celebrity status as did their assigned "uncles" and coaches. Most were in awe of the crowd and the enthusiasm the spectators brought to the event.

Approximately 35,000 people lined the streets to enjoy the parade featuring local high school marching bands, World Series players, and local celebrities. Many floats were sponsored by area businesses or service organizations and featured people throwing candy and other treats to the crowds lining the curbs.

Media from around the country were on hand to broadcast segments of the parade to local television stations around the world as Williamsport became, if only for a night, everybody's home town.

Williamsport.com suggests we all offer a sportsman-like tip of the cap to all those who put together this great parade. To see local radio celebrities work as a team and all the local businesses work together for the good of the team is truly refreshing. Additionally, williamsport.com congratulates all those wonderful residents who turned out for the parade to welcome our visitors. There were no unsportsman like situations visible within the crowd of 30,000+ people, and that alone is admirable.

Well done Williamsport, we have another 10 days to prove that we are worthy of the International attention we receive each year. We should be thankful for what Little League brings to Williamsport and Little League should be proud of how the people of Williamsport respond.