By Ana Patejdl and Damon Poeter – Staff Writers
Gilroy
– The opening ceremonies for Gilroy Little League showcased a
look the town hasn’t seen in some time – professional baseball and
softball replica uniforms.
By Ana Patejdl and Damon Poeter – Staff Writers
Gilroy – The opening ceremonies for Gilroy Little League showcased a look the town hasn’t seen in some time – professional baseball and softball replica uniforms.
With the boys decked out in Major League Baseball gear and the girls bearing National Pro Fastpitch League names on their double-knits, the hundreds of kids gathered in the seats at Christmas Hill Park amphitheater on Sunday looked for all the world as if they were already in the big leagues.
“This is the first time in a while that we’re using major league teams for the uniforms,” said Gilroy Little League president Christine Drysdale. “For the kids, it’s more exciting. The other day, it was the A’s and Giants. It looked pretty cool.”
Of course, the big league look has its humorous possibilities as well. Drysdale described bringing her son Anthony to a recent game, and as he got out of the car she said he suddenly narrowed his eyes and asked suspiciously, “Are those the Dodgers?”
The opening ceremonies actually took place after the game schedule began, because the original date was rained out earlier in the month. On Sunday, there was scarcely a hint of a cloud as the event got off to a classy start with the pledge of allegiance led by the Gilroy Veterans of Foreign Wars color guard, followed by awards for last season’s All Stars and the thanking of Little League’s many sponsors.
As all ballplayers know, however, it’s a mighty fine line between classy and “hey, when do we eat?”
“The highlight is always the Cracker Jack,” said Debbie Ellis, a former Little League official attending the opening ceremonies. “The kids know they’re going to get it, but it’s still a treat.”
Preceding the Cracker Jack was a simple menu of baseball food – nachos, popcorn, cotton candy and, naturally, hot dogs. Lots of hot dogs.
Wienerschnitzel donated 1,500 hot dogs to the cause. Not a one was left unbunned or ungobbled on Sunday.
“The same people cook every year,” said Drysdale, listing a number of Little League parents and friends. “Tony and Rose Bettencourt, Ed and Carolyn Tognetti, Mike Ordiniza, Paul Fierro …”
The food was so good, said Ellis, there might not have been enough of it.
“They ran out of hot dogs,” she said. “I don’t think they expected such a huge turnout.”
Indeed, there was a sense on Sunday of a Garlic Festival mini-preview. The amphitheater floor was packed to standing room only. Parked cars lined Miller Avenue as families strolled to the event on a morning that was already warm before noon. A pair of boys, apparently unable to sit through the ceremony itself, had a furtive game of catch on the field adjacent to the amphitheater. The youngest present found as much amusement climbing that field’s metal bleachers as anything on offer on the stage.
About 940 kids will take part in Gilroy Little League this year. Boys aged 5-15 are split into six divisions: T-ball (10 teams), A (instructional, eight teams), AA (eight teams), minors (10 teams), majors (nine teams) and seniors (six teams). Girls from 5-12 are divided into four divisions: T-ball (four teams), A (four teams), minors (five teams) and majors (five teams). Teams play anywhere from 14 to 20 games, from March to June. They play once during the week and once on Saturday.
All-Stars will come from the two leagues in each division, National and American, said Drysdale. All-Star play for Gilroy’s district starts in July. The best of District 39 face All-Stars from Watsonville, Aptos, Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz and San Juan Bautista.
For now, there’s plenty of ball to play before anyone starts thinking about those All-Star dates. Sunday was a time for the littlest ballplayers to get their first taste of the Little League experience. For the veterans like 6-year-old Sam Kent, a three-year Little Leaguer, it was a time to feel the pride of moving up in the baseball world.
“I like this better than T-ball,” said Sam, who now suits up for the Kent Construction Giants of the instructional A league. Dad Larry Kent is an assistant coach of the Giants under head coach Greg Fernald. Sam’s twin brother Max plays alongside him.
With a date with the dreaded Dodgers looming on Monday, Sam waxed philosophical about his favorite position to play.
“Catcher,” he said after some thought. “Because you get to put on the uniform and the mask.”
