Parade begins Bayside Little League season

More than 500 pint-sized ballplayers turned out for the annual Bayside Little League parade, marching along Bell Boulevard to Crocheron Park.
Dignitaries including State Senator Frank Padavan, Assemblymember Ann Margaret Carrozza, Former Community Board 11 Chair Jerry Iannece and Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Father Peter DeSantis threw out the official first pitches.
Local songstress Karin Daly sang the National Anthem.
“It was an unbelievably huge success,” said Little League Commissioner Bob Reid, who has led the league - now 916 children strong - since 1991.
“We were very hesitant because originally the weather forecast throughout the week was rain,” Reid said, joking, “I’m actually applying right now to be a meteorologist because you can be wrong and people still like you.”
Bayside Little League runs programs for children ages five through 18, including a Texas division for eight- and nine-year-olds and a Texas Farm Division for seven-year-olds.
Following the parade, players took the field, and a dozen games in total were held between Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6.
“It was a great day for the kids to get out there. They are proud to see themselves in their uniforms … and the merchants get involved. We have a great community,” Reid said.

- Christina Santucci