Prior to being honored on the field before Game 2, the Legion Baseball champs from Lincoln, Neb., coached up local youth in an MLB Play Ball event.
Greyson Bjorkman grinned when it was pointed out that the station he was coaching at the MLB Play Ball event Oct. 24 carried the potential for harm, if only slightly.
Along the padded wall between the bullpen and right field at Helfaer Field, a Little League ball diamond outside Milwaukee’s American Family Field, kids were lined up trying to knock balls off hitting tees by tossing other baseballs. Bjorkman and others from the 2026 American Legion World Series championship team from Lincoln (Neb.) Carpet Land Post 500 were standing among the tees encouraging a group of 6- and 7-year-olds whose throws were, at times, a tad off target.
“It kind of brings us back to when we first started,” Bjorkman said of the coaching experience at the Play Ball event. “Everyone’s got to start somewhere, so just being able to help them get to the next level, have a fun and enjoyable day here at the ballpark.”
As part of the honors from winning the ALWS in August, players and coaches from Carpet Land were guests at Game 2 of the MLB World Series Saturday in Milwaukee.
But their day started as coaches for the Play Ball event, assisted by former Major Leaguers and other youth baseball champions. To a man, the ALWS champs noted the “cool opportunity” and “amazing experience” of helping teach the next generation of baseball players.
“Any time people come together to grow the game of baseball, it’s a really cool thing. And for our boys and our coaches to be a part of it is pretty special,” said Coach Mychal Lanik.
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“I think one of the things that we talk about is being selfless and being about more than ourselves. So when we get an opportunity to come out here and be around these great kids, it’s just an opportunity to show that, that’s who we are, we’re selfless and we care about others. The game of baseball has given these guys a lot, so for them to give 90 minutes back, helping some kids learn a little bit, it’s a really neat thing,” Lanik added.
The Play Ball event included a variety of stations — running, hitting, catching, and a simulated game among them — with each age group of local kids rotating through over the course of 90 minutes Saturday morning.
At the hitting station, Dele Odulate smiled as he threw a number of pitches to a steady stream of young sluggers.
“We’re blessed to have many opportunities with Legion,” Odulate said of the experience. “It’s always good to give back, support a bigger cause.”
Lanik said the experience of visiting Milwaukee for the World Series was “really cool.”
“We’re pretty honored to be a part of it, pretty honored to be rewarded the way we have been. … I know our players are on cloud nine today,” Lanik said.
Cade Anderson, whose three-run home run put Lincoln ahead for good in the 9-6 championship game win over Portland (Ore.) Post 158, said it was “still kind of crazy” that his team won the 99th ALWS.
“That night was just such a fun moment, so surreal,” Anderson said.
Brodie McIntire, the 2026 George W. Rulon Player of the Year, said American Legion Baseball was “the most fun baseball I’ve ever played in my life.”
“No other way I’d rather spend my summer than playing Legion,” McIntire added.
Beyond the experience of coaching younger kids and experiencing the World Series firsthand, the weekend provided an opportunity for the ALWS champs to reunite. Several players are off to college while others are still in high school.
“Seeing all these guys that I haven’t seen since (August) is awesome, and then being here at the World Series just amplifies it all and makes it more special,” said Bjorkman, the winning pitcher in relief in the championship game in Shelby, N.C.
The team and other youth baseball champions were honored on the field before Saturday’s Game 2, a 5-4 win by the Brewers.
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