Baseball

Cal Ripken opening day is a glorious rite of spring

Oodles of kids from t-ballers to Babe Ruth Major Leaguers come out for league festivities

By RICHARD A. ROSS

FREMONT CENTER, NY - The bright morning sunshine added an extra glow to the smiles and bright new uniforms of the legions of athletes who came out for the opening day celebration of Cal Ripken League baseball on May 5.

With a new administration headed up by Alex Rau and Shannon Bailey, this day was action-packed for the teams from Fremont Center, Jeffersonville, Livingston Manor and Roscoe.

Using two fields, the activities began and the excitement started to build. On Field Two, five and six year olds began their base-running competition and steamed around the diamond and were dutifully timed. Later, their older counterparts would circle the bases at an even faster clip.

The expressions on their faces were priceless.

Across the way on Field One, the Majors round-robin games were beginning. The structure was designed to allow each team to go through its batting order, while the other team played the field in a no-inning framework. The teams then switched places and the winning team was the one that accrued the most runs.

Aspiring young hurlers like Fremont Center’s eleven-year-old righty Gavin Owen or his southpaw teammate Jared Meola, as well as Livingston Manor ace Trevor Taggart, worked on their pitch location as batters, including Zachary O’Connor, Matthew Nicoletti and Stas Boroski from Jeffersonville, took swings and ran the bases.

The same format was used for girls major league softball.

Parents looked on and some offered sage advice, as did the attentive coaches who looked to give their young stars pointers that will help them as the season gets underway.

Vendors galore were on hand to offer up keepsakes, and the aroma of the delicious foods began to waft through the morning air.

The day featured an Opening Day ceremony, replete with the National Anthem sung by recent Mighty M Star Search winner Shawn Bailey, and an introduction of all of the teams and their coaches.

Other events included a batting competition, team relays and a pitching competition that afforded hurlers six balls and as many chances to fire their pitches into the strike zone.

The day’s events were designed to offer everyone a chance to participate in activities that are part and parcel of America’s greatest pastime.

From the energetic t-ballers right up through the serious Major Leaguers of the Babe Ruth League, it was plain to see that these young athletes can’t wait for the season to begin.