Batter up for Bellmore Little League!

The Bellmore Little League ushered in the spring baseball season last weekend, as hundreds of youngsters paraded through Bellmore streets before a special carnival and ceremony on Saturday.

The procession began at Kennedy High School, where boys and girls gathered in uniform and carried banners and American flags. They marched to the nearby Bruce Gary Field for a day of fun and remembrance.

Anna Blasi, a Little League board member and special events coordinator, explained that league members wanted to memorialize a former coach who died in December: Scott Rosenfeld. She explained that they welcomed his family to the pitcher’s mound before the carnival festivities began because they wanted to honor them and recognize the years of service that Rosenfeld gave to the league and local children.

“Because he touched so many of our lives, we wanted to make a simple gesture to let them know how much he meant to all of us,” she said. “It was really a huge loss to our sports community.”

After paying tribute to the beloved coach, the children were encouraged to have a fun day on the field. They were treated to free ice cream, cotton candy, bagels and Cracker Jacks, in addition to plenty of entertainment.

Blasi said a DJ got everyone grooving at the carnival, providing a festive atmosphere. The children also watched circus performers and took part in a pep rally featuring the Long Island Ducks baseball team mascot, QuackerJack.