Williamstown Cal Ripken Opens 2012 SeasonBy Stephen Dravis
Special to iBerkshires
02:56PM / Saturday, April 28, 2012
Above, Williamstown Savings President John Law throws out the first pitch. See more photos here. |
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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — With a nod to the local businesses that help make it possible, the Williamstown Cal Ripken youth baseball league got under way on Saturday morning.
Players aged 4 to 12 paraded from Williamstown Elementary School and down Cole Avenue for a brief Opening Day ceremony under clear blue skies.
Before the day's game got under way, league President Allen Hall reminded the players and families in attendance of a time when the skies were not so blue, and the field where they gathered was ravaged by Tropical Storm Irene.
Hall praised the volunteers who gave their time to get the diamond back into shape and singled out Williamstown Savings Bank for making a $5,000 donation that helped the league recover.
Bank President John C. Law threw out the ceremonial first pitch of the season and addressed the crowd.
"We're really proud to support Cal Ripken this year," Law said. "Little League is a big part of so many people's lives. I can remember when I was growing up, opening day and the parade was a big deal."
The Williamstown league is affiliated with Baltimore-based Ripken Baseball, an alternative to Little League Baseball Inc., in Williamsport, Pa.
This year's Williamstown Cal Ripken league has four teams playing T-ball (ages 4-6) and two each in the Rookies (ages 7-9), Minor League (ages 8-11) and Major League (ages 9-12).
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