Media’s game in Little League World Series a dream come true for Austin Crowley

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Austin Crowley dreamed of what this moment would be like.

But now, it’s a reality.

“It’s a dream come true,” Crowley told The Inquirer before Wednesday morning’s opening ceremonies for the Little League World Series at Volunteer Stadium. “Last year I came here as a fan, dreaming that we would come next year.”

So is Media Little League’s appearance in the 76th edition of the Little League World Series a result of a manifestation from Crowley?

Sure, you can call it that. But there’s also a point to be made that it wasn’t.

“We put in all the work to be here, so we deserve to be here,” Crowley said.

Tonight at 7, Crowley will get to live that dream for real when he takes the mound as the starting pitcher for Media in its opening-round game against Needville (Texas) at Howard J. Lamade Stadium (ESPN).

“I’m a little nervous [but] more excited than anything,” said Crowley on getting the nod for Game 1. “I know we’re going to have a big home crowd. I’m excited to go out there and do what I do and just play like it’s any other game.”

» READ MORE: Here’s Media Little League’s full roster for tonight’s World Series opener against Texas

The 12-year-old Crowley knows competing in the Little League World Series is something he will never “get to do again,” so he is taking it all in.

“[Got to] take advantage of the opportunities,” Crowley said.

His teammates have as well since their arrival in South Williamsport, forming new relationships with the other 19 teams in the tournament in “The Grove,” which serves as the players lodge for all the teams during their stay.

This was visible Wednesday morning before the opening ceremonies as members of the Delco team gave hugs to other players as they walked by them alongside the fence while they waited to walk into Volunteer Stadium.

“It’s really cool meeting all the other teams, talking to all the teams from the different countries and learning new languages,” Crowley said.

He added, “We like to play Ping-Pong against all the different teams. …. Everything is so close that whenever we want to, we can go meet other teams.”

The summer baseball season is a grueling one, as teams, like Media, have been playing almost every weekend since the end of May. But for Crowley, he said he wouldn’t have wanted to spend his summer with a different group of friends and that it all has been worth it.

“I’m going to think about it next year and wish I had one more practice or one more game with them,” Crowley said.

It’s the by-product of the tight bonds the Media team has built — as some of the players have been playing with each other since tee-ball — which according to Crowley is his team’s secret weapon heading into the tournament.

“We’ve been together since we were 6, 7 and 8 years old,” Crowley said. “I’ve known these kids my whole life and I can trust them with whatever. It’s great to know they’re pretty much part of my family at this point.”

Crowley, who has been Media’s ace this summer, said he has modeled some of his technique after his favorite pitcher, right-hander Paul Skenes, who is in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.

Even though Skenes’ professional career hasn’t been long, as he was taken as the No. 1 overall pick in last month’s MLB draft, Crowley has been studying the former LSU Tiger for quite some time.

“I like the way he throws pitches and [his] confidence,” Crowley said. “I like to think of myself close to him because he’s a tall kid, [too].”

Crowley emulated that confidence on the mound in Media’s Mid-Atlantic Regional championship win over Northwest Washington, D.C., last Friday, as he tossed five scoreless innings while striking out 13.

“Austin pitched awesome,” manager Tom Bradley said.

He will now look to replicate that performance tonight against Needville. The key? To keep throwing strikes and trust his defense behind him.

Nate Saleski, the lone catcher on Media’s roster, will serve as Crowley’s battery mate once again.

“He catches everything,” said Crowley on the relationship he has formed with Saleski. “He sticks it and frames it. That’s all I need.”

Crowley has a three-pitch repertoire — fastball, curveball, and sinker — and is said to be working on a fourth pitch, a change-up. But it is the four-seamer that is his favorite and has been his most effective pitch this summer.

“I like it because it runs [to the plate] a little bit,” Crowley said.

Like most pitchers, Crowley has his own superstitions — a cold shower and a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich for breakfast — but he remains cool-minded heading into the biggest start of his career on the grandest of stages.

“I’ve been practicing the past two summers for this,” said Crowley on what will be going through his mind as he delivers his first pitch. “I know if I can trust myself and relax, I will be able to do what I need to do and it will pay off.”

» READ MORE: Media manager Tom Bradley’s message for the Little League World Series: ‘We’re out there to have fun’