Saratoga News | 0512 | March 23, 2005

March 23, 2005 Saratoga, California Since 1955

Photograph by Loretta Gibson

Players, coaches and family members gather at Congress Springs Park to celebrate the Saratoga Little League opening day on March 19. One player, 5-year-old Kyle Reid, has his own celebration by tossing his hat high in the air.

Play Ball: It's spring and time for baseball

By Dick Sparrer

In the immortal words of Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, "It's a beautiful day for baseball ... let's play two!" And that's just what they did on March 12 in the Saratoga Little League major division, but only after a morning filled with activities as the league celebrated its official opening day for the 2005 season.

There were a couple of major division games--the Giants defeated the A's 8-4 and the Rangers topped the Cubs 10-6. And the teams in the AAA, AA, farm and T-ball divisions were also in action.

But the highlight of the day was the ceremony that began at 8:15 a.m. on the league's major division diamond at Congress Springs Park.

League President Michael Tidd opened the day by offering congratulations to the tournament teams of 2004 and with a few remarks on the programs and improvements in the league for 2005.

Saratoga Mayor Kathleen King was on hand to address the young players and their families, and just before youth umpire Trent Dozier recited the Little League Oath the youngest players of them all--the T-ballers--took part in the annual running of the bases.

Then the league's youngest player, 4 ¹/2-year-old Ben Hulme, officially got the season under way when he delivered the ceremonial first pitch to the league's oldest player, 12-year-old David Beam.

And with that, the Saratoga Little League had begun. But just a week following the opening day ceremonies, the league's fields were all closed due to rain. You can bet, though, that the young baseball players will be back on the diamond when the sun pops back out and it's beautiful baseball weather again. They'll be playing two, and then some.

T-ball players participate in the annual running of the bases during Saratoga Little League opening day ceremonies on March 19.

The league's youngest player, 4 ¹/2-year-old Ben Hulme (near right), fires the ceremonial first pitch during opening day events. The Saratoga Little League season really got going later in the day (far right) when the real pitching began.

Saratoga Little League players honor America as they stand for the national anthem during opening day ceremonies.

Ice soothes the pain for William Bannick of the Red Sox after he was hit in the chin while trying to catch a pop fly prior to the first game on March 19.

There was more than just baseball for the youngsters participating in the Saratoga Little League opening day events on March 19 at Congress Springs Park. These two Astros took a little time out from baseball to try out the park's swings.