Rockville Centre Little League kicks off 2014 season

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After one of the longest and fiercest winters in recent memory, Rockville Centre Little Leaguers roused the village from its long winter’s nap on March 29 in a march up its traditional parade route on Maple Avenue.

“The enthusiasm of Opening Day never changes,” said League President Tom Bucaria. “We are so proud to carry on the tradition of Little Leaguers who came before us.”

For the fourth consecutive year, the beginning of the baseball and softball seasons also brought hope for locals in need, thanks to the league’s food drive. The drive, held every year after the parade, gave players, parents, spectators and dignitaries the opportunity to bring non-perishables to donate to the needy. This year, students and faculty of South Side Middle School aided the drive by hosting a week-long drive prior to the parade.

The food collected was shared with food pantries run by the Vineyard Church, St. Agnes Cathedral Service Center, the Economic Opportunity Commission of Nassau County, Central Synagogue of Nassau County and the Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre — all of which provide food to those in need in Rockville Centre. The Rockville Centre Lions Club also contributed to the drive, donating King Kullen gift cards to each of the receiving organizations.

“In the four years since the opening day food drive was begun, the league has collected over 10,000 pounds of food for our neighbors in need,” said this year’s food drive coordinator, Paul Sewell. “This is something our children can really be proud of.”

The parade itself proved a typically festive affair, with local dignitaries including Mayor Francis X. Murray, Deputy Mayor Nancy Howard, and Village Trustees Ed Oppenheimer, Michael Sepe and Emilio Grillo marching alongside the Little Leaguers. Village Administrator Keith Spadaro, Assemblyman Brian Curran, Councilman Anthony Santino and village recreation superintendent Anthony Brunetta were also in attendance, and colorguards from the Rockville Centre Fire Department and the U.S. Marine Corps also marched.

Murray and Howard each threw the ceremonial first pitches for the first baseball and softball games respectively, before the rain came and washed out the first games of spring — but certainly not the enthusiasm of a new season.