Central Nassau league ready for new season

The Central Nassau Athletic Association opened the spring baseball and softball season with its annual parade on Saturday, April 16. Ballplayers, parents and community members marched down Carman Avenue before a ceremony was held at the field near the street’s intersection with Salisbury Park Drive to mark opening day.

A local staple for more than 50 years, CNAA takes in kids from ages 4 to 14 from East Meadow, Salisbury and Westbury. Dozens are registered to play on a Rebels squad with children in their age groups this spring.

Wearing their uniforms, players held banners featuring CNAA sponsors during the parade. When they arrived at the ball field, one child from each division threw out one of the first pitches of the season.

President Joe Aloi welcomed families, and civic leaders like Community Association of Stewart Avenue President Helen Meittinis and locally elected officials also spoke at the festive event.

Attendees didn’t go home empty-handed. Tickets to New York Yankees games were raffled off, and each child received a gift bag.