SHELBY, NC — There’s great Southern charm here at Keeter Stadium, home of the 2024 American Legion Baseball World Series.

Adding to that charm on a muggy Thursday afternoon were the much-needed giant ceiling fans circulating above the outside stands.

While the players rightly stole the spotlight on opening day and spectators controlled their own fans, some of the tournament’s biggest fans were some of its smallest.

A handful of young players – most of them from the Shelby area – hope to one day shine at this prestigious event and are working as hitters in the dugouts this week.

“We basically just pulled my name out of a bucket or something,” Cason Clay told MTN Sports before Thursday’s Michigan-Louisiana game.

And that’s exactly how he and others found their way onto the field of the World Series. Basically, by winning the lottery.

“I was excited, yeah… happy,” he said, standing right in front of Michigan’s dugout.

Clay says he plays shortstop, pitcher and catcher on his Little League team. He and three other lucky winners were sent from Midland, Michigan, to take care of the team.

“So I go out and get the bats on the field when the players get a walk or something like that,” he said of his job.

Or preferably after a base hit.

At 10, Cason isn’t even the youngest here; 6-year-old Parker, in his oversized uniform, makes his way to the Michigan team meeting full of curiosity, wondering about the equipment and asking the players a ton of questions that have nothing to do with baseball.

Another young man is the fourth member of Michigan’s batting lineup – a shy guy who does double duty after being chosen to belt out “baseball’s most famous words,” as the stadium announcer shouted while announcing behind home base.

And to the enthusiastic applause of the crowd beneath the rotating ceiling fans, the young Bat Boy shouted: “Play ball!”