Phillies news and rumors 8/21: Best of the Little League Classic festivities

Bryson Stott brought some awesome art to the Little League Classic. (Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

The Phillies recorded two hits in six shutout innings on Sunday against a guy who entered play with a 5.20 ERA, then scored three runs in the ninth only to lose by one and make a series loss to the NL East’s basement dweller sting that much more.

Great — that’s out of the way. You can read more about it if you’d like. But up until the Nationals scored four in the first inning against Zack Wheeler, the event that was Sunday’s Little League Classic was fun, Media Little League’s tournament-ending loss earlier in the day notwithstanding.

Here are the best moments from the festivities in Williamsport, even including some from the Phillies’ loss.

Mic’ing up Garrett Stubbs is always a good idea.

Bryce Harper got emotional in the ESPN booth earlier in the day while talking about his love for his kids and the challenges of handling an MLB schedule as a dad.

Another all-time Nick Castellanos quote, feat. Australia’s Justin Jang.

Kyle Schwarber and the Phillies are BIG Media fans.

And, finally, Bryson Stott’s pencil bat went viral on social media Sunday night. It’s easy to see why: The thing rocks.

Other must-read (or watch) Phillies content

Harper talked to Media Little League before their elimination game on Sunday, as Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer documented.
Paul Casella of MLB.com wrote about the Phillies’ experience flipping roles and cheering on the kids.
Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia wrote about Rob Thomson’s thoughts on that experience, and how the whole day recharged a Phillies team fighting for playoff positioning.
Now, Gabe Kapler and the Giants are coming to town for a huge series. He’s been getting criticized a lot recently (sound familiar?), but as he told the San Francisco Chronicle‘s John Shea, it’s part of the job.

Former Phillie Nation

The last time, before Sunday, that the Phillies played in the Little League Classic was Aug. 19, 2018. Nick Pivetta allowed six runs in 3 2/3 innings and earned the loss in an 8-2 defeat to the Mets.

Pivetta was also relevant on the day of 2023’s Little League Classic, but over in New York this time. The Red Sox’s righty allowed two runs in five innings, featuring prominently as the “bulk boy” (if you will) who led the Red Sox to a three-game sweep of the Yankees. It moved Boston to three games back of the American League’s third Wild Card spot.

He did that despite perhaps the most egregious ball call you’ve ever seen, which, these days, is really saying something. (And to any Junior Valentine defenders: No degree of poor receiving should ever result in such a ruling.)