Back For Another Swing

For the second consecutive year, the Maryland softball program will participate in the historic Girls With Game Experience in the iconic Howard J. Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, PA—the home of the Little League Baseball World Series.

“We could not be more excited to bring back the Little League Girls with Game Experience to Howard J. Lamade Stadium and the entire Williamsport community on October 21,” said Miller. “This year’s event is gearing up to be bigger than ever as we welcome the talented collegiate softball players and staff from Army West Point, Bucknell, Maryland, and Penn State to showcase their skills at the home of the Little League Baseball World Series as we continue to spotlight the importance of softball at every level of the game. With no cost to park or attend the games throughout the afternoon, we hope everyone has a chance to come out and enjoy the fun of this year’s Girls with Game Experience.”

Orchestrated by Maryland football alumnus and Williamsport native Keith Calta, Little League President and CEO Stephen Keener, and Little League Director of Softball Development Ashlea Miller, Maryland and Penn State gathered in Williamsport last fall for the first college softball game played in Lamade Stadium. 

The event was more than just the game, however, it also consisted of a two-hour instructional clinic for females ages 9-14, led by the softball coaches and athletes from both schools. The clinic was in coordination with Maryland Black Ice (MBI) camps, a college skills camp founded by Calta 14 years ago that provides training and college opportunities for young players. At MBI, Calta works hand-in-hand with former Maryland shortstop Kathy McLaughlin who appeared in three NCAA Tournaments and earned the ACC Batting Champion crown in 2012 as a senior.

Calta also credits Christopher Newport University, Hood College, New England College and Alvernia University for their participation in the MBI Camp. 

Last year’s event was a roaring success, featuring a sold-out camp and a crowd of almost 2,000 people at the game. And once it was clear it was a hit, the talks immediately turned to ways to expand it and to make it even bigger. 

“We are very excited to return to Williamsport for our second Girls with Game event,” McLaughlin said. “As an alum, it is extra special to see Maryland play on such a historic stage. I cannot thank Keith Calta enough for his vision and persistence in making this event happen and seeing it through into the future. The Girls with Game event can help jumpstart the softball careers of the young girls attending. The camp attendees have dreams to one day be the college athletes they are working with.”

Calta credits Keener and Miller specifically with making it possible for the event to happen again.

“This thing doesn’t work unless they support it,” Calta said. 

This year’s Girls With Game Experience not only includes a second game, with Maryland taking on Bucknell followed by Penn State-Army, it also includes a Friday night coaches clinic where college coaches come in for three hours and run a clinic for the high school and local coaches. 

Once again, the competing players and coaches will host a sold-out camp for Little League softball players that will run from 9 am until noon on Saturday before the games. This year, there was an extra emphasis on having older players sign up for the camps as Calta and Miller work to help Little League grow the older kids’ game.

“It’s a great opportunity for the younger players to get up close and personal and learn from college coaches and players,” Calta said. “They really get some great instruction.”

For Calta, whose daughter Sarah followed in his footsteps and played softball at Maryland from 2014 to 2017 and earned Second-Team All-Big Ten honors as a junior, he especially wants to see an increase of the Maryland faithful in Williamsport—a town that houses many Nittany Lion fans. 

“We want to see even more Maryland fans making the trip and coming down to support the Maryland team,” Calta said. “I want to see as many Terps as possible. For two reasons really, to support the Maryland team and also to show our new coach (Lauren Karn) that we have a great fanbase.” 

As the game of softball keeps growing and growing, the Little League, Maryland and softball communities are all ecstatic to continue expanding the event and to bring the sport to more and more young girls.

“Competing at the Little League World Series was a dream for a lot of our players who grew up playing Little League Softball leading them into their collegiate careers," said Karn, who was hired in August of 2023 as Maryland softball's new coach. "Being a part of the Girls With Game event is exciting for our team because we have the opportunity to make an impact on youth softball players who may have dreams of both competing at the LLWS along with playing in college.”