It's not every day someone gets a chance to meet a professional athlete, so it was hard to say who was having more fun Saturday evening at the York City Ice Rink, parents or their children.
After the originally scheduled softball game between the Chicago Bandits and Philadelphia Force of the women's National Pro Fastpitch League was rained out, the teams converged at the ice rink for a meet-and-greet with the fans.
"It was a really good experience," Tim Blauser of Dover Township said of meeting the teams alongside his daughter. "You don't get this chance too often to meet someone on this high of a level, especially the Olympians."
One of those Olympians in attendance that everybody came to see was Bandits pitcher Jennie Finch.
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The 12-year-old Pittman wore a Team USA No. 27 Finch jersey when she met her favorite player.
"She's pretty and she's nice and she said she liked my pink jersey," Pittman said.
Although the fans enjoyed meeting members of both teams, they would have liked to have seen them display their talents on the field.
"The weather just didn't cooperate," Stacey Stuck, the Junior Olympic Commissioner, said of the game, which was to happen at Hoffman Stadium. "The field was just too spongy. We just didn't want to take any chances with injuries."
The game was sold out, with at least 1,300 tickets sold prior to the game. Event coordinators expected another 300 to 500 in walk-up sales.
Saturday's game in York was also set to be the first one outside of the five major cities that play in the NPF.
"I was approached by the Force last year about partnering with the ASA (Amateur Softball Association) about promoting softball, because they (Force) play in Allentown and only a small population gets to see them," Stuck said. "The York County Visitors Bureau really made it happen, alongside the York Parks and Rec Department.
"We were tying this into our 14-and-under and 16-and-under state championships. We have 41 teams here for the state championships, which is more than we've ever drawn."
People did come from all over the east coast for the chance to meet the professionals, including the Black family from Ocean City, Md.
The Blacks, with two young softball players, are consumed by the sport year round.
"It was priceless," Brad Black said of meeting the players.
The feeling was mutual, though, on the players' end as they enjoyed seeing the large interest shown in the game.
"It's awesome they sold this game out. It sucks we don't get to play it, though," Bandits infielder Samantha Findlay said. "We all do our fair share of promoting our game.
"By doing this (traveling to other cities), they're trying to promote the game more, which is good to see."
Fans holding tickets to Saturday's game will be able to use them for an upcoming Force game in Allentown.
Tickets can be exchanged for either the Aug. 14 or Aug. 15 games, both of which will be held at Bicentennial Park in Allentown against the Washington Glory.