WESTFIELD – Mark your calendars.
Dust off your lawn chairs.
Opening Day for the 63rd season of Westfield Little League baseball and softball is this Saturday, April 20. The festivities begin with the traditional all-teams parade to Cross Street and continue with games throughout the day.
“This is always the best day of the year,” said John Wheeler, longtime Little League player, coach, administrator and current president.
The 2013 season starts with a number of changes, including one less playing field at the Cross Street complex, a nine-team Majors division, and a newly named Wheeler Division. The former A Division welcomes 9-, 10- and 11-year olds this year. In the past, 9-year olds played exclusively in the Instructional Division, which this year will focus on the training and development of ballplayers ages 7 and 8. No similar changes are being made to the softball divisions.
Saturday’s events begin at South Middle School, where players in full uniform from baseball and softball, Instructional to Seniors, will gather beginning at 8:30 a.m. for the traditional parade to Cross Street. This year’s parade route will travel from South Middle, down West Silver Street to East Silver Street, and then left on to Cross Street. (Note: If the parade is to be cancelled due to inclement weather, a notice will be posted on the Westfield Little League website – www.westfieldlittleleague.com – between 7:30-8 a.m.)
Opening Day ceremonies in the Cross Street infield will begin as soon as the teams arrive, and will include a season-opening prayer, well wishes from area dignitaries, and the drawing of raffle prize winners. This year’s raffle prizes, all donated by Westfield Bank, include an iPad, Red Sox tickets and an Olympia Sports gift card.
Team and individual photographs at both Cross Street and Paper Mill will follow the close of the brief opening ceremony. (Note: If it rains on Saturday and the parade is cancelled, team and individual photos will be taken at the Westfield Boys and Girls Club on the originally scheduled times. Softball photos, scheduled for April 27 at Sadie Knox, will also be moved to the Boys and Girls Club in the event of rain on that day.)
The first pitches of the 2013 season will be thrown beginning at 12:30 p.m. At Cross Street, the 2012 regular season South co-champions from Commercial play Moose Lodge. At Paper Mill, Air Compressor Engineering and Camfour meet. Also at Paper Mill at 12:30 p.m., Teddy Bear Pools and Westfield Police Association meet in the season’s first Instructional game. More games are scheduled throughout the day, with Wheeler Division games scheduled for Sunday. A complete schedule is available on the Westfield Little League website. Little League softball opens its season with two games on Tuesday, April 23, and another the following night at Sadie Knox.
“Play ball!”
COURTESY OF WESTFIELD LITTLE LEAGUE
