MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette correspondent Trinity Belle of the Montoursville Softball Little League, second from left, watches with other softball participants during the T-Moble Little League Home Run Derby on Thursday at Volunteer Stadium.
While she was waiting for her interview at the left field fence, a fan approached her and asked Trinity Belle of Montoursville to autograph a ball that had been hit over the fence at Volunteer Stadium.
The Montoursville batter smiled as she signed it.
In the sea of fans you could see numerous “Lyle’s Bomb Disposal Squad” Pink T-shirts are worn in support of Lyle Huggler from Montgomery.
The two local Little League players may not have played in the Little League World Series, but they definitely felt like superstars at Thursday’s Little League Home Run Derby.
“It’s cool to think that we could have been here, but landing here was incredible. It was great,” said Huggler, who played this summer for Tri-Town, which made it to the Pennsylvania state tournament.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette correspondent Lyle Huggler Jr. of the Montgomery Little League waves to the crowd during the Home Run Derby at Volunteer Stadium on Thursday.
“It feels really good (to take part in the Home Run Derby). It gives me a lot,” Said Belle. “Since it’s my hometown, everyone was here to cheer me on.”
The loudest cheers during Thursday’s Little League Home Run Derby introductions at Volunteer Stadium undoubtedly came when the names of Belle and Huggler were announced over the loudspeakers.
And when they were called to bat, the cheering broke out again.
“It felt good,” said Belle, laughing. “It was also nerve-wracking because everyone is watching and if you mess it up, you think, ‘Oh my God.'”
Neither of the two participants made a mistake and both hit a few home runs. In fact, quite a few home runs.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette correspondent Trinit Belle of the Montoursville Softball Little League hits the ball during the T Mobile Little League Home Run Derby at Volunteer Stadium on Thursday.
Eight participants competed in the Little League Home Run Derby in baseball and softball, with the top four advancing to the semifinals based on the number of home runs they hit.
Huggler hit 11 home runs, many of which cleared the fence at Volunteer Stadium with ease, while numerous eager fans tried to get a hold of a home run ball. His 11 home runs tied him with Jacob Justine of Nevada, Gunnar Maney of Michigan and Charlie LeBlanc of New York.
All four went into a tiebreaker where they each got three pitches to hit home runs and see who advanced. Huggler threw all three pitches he saw into deep hits over the fence, tying the game again, this time with Maney.
In the second tiebreaker round between Maney and Huggler, Maney beat the local hero 3-2 and advanced.
The winner of the baseball competition was Landon Bono of Lake Mary, Florida, who is competing in the Little League World Series. He struck out 13 in the first round, 11 in the semifinals and an impressive 20 in the finals.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette correspondent Lyle Huggler, Jr. of the Montgomery Little League hits a home run during the T-Moble Little League Home Run Derby on Thursday at Volunteer Stadium.
“It’s really cool because there was a big leaguer here in Hunter Pence. The kids are great, it’s fun to talk to them,” said Huggler. “It was fun playing against them. The competition was entertaining and great. It was just a great experience.”
In softball, Belle finished the first round with 10 home runs, as she was the second competitor to hit a home run. Although Belle did not advance, she was still happy to be one of only eight girls who got the chance to compete.
The winner of the softball tournament was Sophia Silverstein from Arizona, who hit a total of 60 home runs in three rounds, 25 of them in the final.
“I wasn’t even sad that I lost, I still made it here. It just feels good,” Said Belle. “Everyone there was great. I knew it would be difficult even to make it (that far).”
The Little League Home Run Derby is sponsored by T-Mobile, and T-Mobile donates $100 for every home run hit. A total of 391 home runs were hit between the baseball and softball fields, resulting in a donation of $39,100 that will benefit the T-Mobile Little League Call Up Grant to support families in need in 2025.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette correspondent Trinity Belle of the Montoursville Softball Little League takes a turn at the T-Moble Little League Home Run Derby at Volunteer Stadium on Thursday.
Both Huggler and Belle were happy to meet former elite athletes from their respective sports. The baseball team was led by former MLB star Hunter Pence, while softball legend Jessica Mendoza led the softball team.
Belle said it was great to see Mendoza, talk to her, and get her autograph on a softball.
And for Huggler, it was also cool to hear a major league player tell a story.
“He told us some stories from his time as a player and how he dealt with adversity and nervousness,” It was cool to hear that because he played in the MLB for 14 years.”
This was the first time that two local players participated in the Little League Home Run Derby, which both Huggler and Belle thought was cool.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette correspondent Landon Bono of the Lake Mary Little League poses with his trophy with former MLB outfielder Hunter Pence after winning the baseball portion of the T-Mobile Little League Home Run Derby at Volunteer Stadium on Thursday.
And the fans too.
“It was fun spending my entire trip here with Lyle,” Said Belle. “It was great.”
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette correspondent: Fans battle for a home run ball over center field during the T-Mobile Little League Home Run Derby on Thursday at Volunteer Stadium.
