Down on the farm with the Crosscutters

WILLIAMSPORT — Nate, the honorary intern, was always good for a laugh. And there was Joe, clubhouse manager, on call to cheer everyone up. Of course, it was a treat to put a smile on Kenny Thomas’s face before each game with a simple, “Good luck coach!”

Just a few of the friends Lauren Barnes made this summer while interning with the Williamsport Crosscutters, a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League.

It ended up being the perfect internship for a sport management major looking for a true inside look at the sports industry … and an unforgettable summer for Barnes.

“This internship honestly showed me this is a career I want moving forward,” said Barnes, a junior at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg. “It brought me so much relief and joy that I finally found something that really stuck. A career in marketing and promotions is something I’ll be searching for.”

Barnes was one of 14 interns for the Crosscutters working game day operations, food and beverage services, marketing and promotions, production, and ticket operations. She was also one of three Commonwealth University sport management students on the team, which included Moxen Cotter, a CU-Lock Haven senior, and Derek Hughes ’24, a CU-Lock Haven alumnus and sport management graduate student.

“I’ve always loved sports, but I was just as interested in what happens behind the scenes as what happens on the field,” Hughes said. “Sport management felt like the perfect way to combine my passion for athletics with my interest in business, marketing, and event planning.

“I’ve learned that in sports, no two days are ever the same, and you need to be ready for anything. This internship has taught me to think on my feet, work closely with others, and always keep the fan experience at the center of what we do.”

From the Electronics Extravaganza in June to Christmas in July to Boomer’s Birthday in August, the fan experience was always center stage for the interns.

“I really enjoyed being a part of all the behind-the-scenes action, including picking kids to do our on-field promotions,” Barnes said. “I’ve loved seeing kids' faces light up when they get to do simple things like cleaning the plate or getting to yell “play ball!” into the microphone before the game starts. Seeing their happiness and the parents’ gratitude makes the experience all worth the while.”

Hughes agreed.

“I’ve always been passionate about baseball and the way it brings communities together,” Hughes said. “The Crosscutters’ reputation for creating a fun, engaging atmosphere really stood out to me, and I wanted to be part of a team that values both the sport and the fan experience.”

Other skills, which translated nicely back to their sport management courses, were in play for each game like selling, promotions, prize give-a-ways, and mascot duty.

“Being with Boomer had to be one of my favorite roles,” Barnes said. “I got to help Boomer with fan interaction and activities like our T-shirt blast. I loved going around with him and doing silly things to make the kids happy. I loved seeing them light up and get so happy when they got a picture or autograph with Boomer.”

The interns saw many other parallels between the sport management program and their summer with the Crosscutters.

“In class I’ve learned how to be an effective communicator, how to present yourself, how to interact with people — and most importantly — how little tasks make a big difference,” Barnes said. “Although some of our (internship) tasks seemed small and insignificant, even the smallest things made the ship sail smoothly.

Regular access to the behind-the-scenes operations of the Crosscutters generated some of the biggest lessons, according to Barnes.

“I saw how we maintained relationships with sponsors and local groups, and how we gave them the best experience each time to make them keep wanting to work with us,” Barnes said. “Little things like getting to know fans and sponsors make the biggest difference, and it's something they truly appreciate.”

Hughes acknowledged this as well, including more connections back to what he’s learned through the sport management program as an undergraduate and graduate student.

“In my sport marketing classes, we discussed strategies for engaging fans and building a brand, and I got to apply that directly through game day promotions and social media work (with the Crosscutters),” Hughes said. “Event management concepts from class also came to life while coordinating between departments to make sure everything ran smoothly on game days.

“The sport management program gave me a strong foundation in both the business and operational sides of sports. Courses in marketing, event management, and communication prepared me to handle the fast-paced, detail-oriented work that comes with game days. It also taught me how to work effectively as part of a team, which has been essential in this internship.”

Barnes agreed.

“My experience through my classes and the Sports Management Club has given me the knowledge needed for this internship and made it feel that much easier,” Barnes said. “I’ve also learned from the program that the best workers don't just do what they are told, they go above and beyond, and that's exactly what I tried to do (with the Crosscutters).”

Crosscutters Internship Gallery