Wooden bat baseball comes to Valley Stream

When the Valley Stream Baseball League opens its season this Saturday, players in the upper divisions will be using wooden bats instead of metal ones, an unusual choice in youth baseball.

However, league President Bob Inzerillo and Vice President Richard Graves said it will give the children a true baseball experience.

This year, there will be more than 400 players on 33 intra-league and travel teams. They will gather at Firemen’s Field at noon on Saturday along with their coaches and parents for the opening day ceremonies.

The Baseball League came into existence as the Valley Stream Mail League in May 1943. It was associated with the local newspaper, the Valley Stream Mail (later the Mail Leader). The first game was played that June 10 at Firemen’s Field.

The initial league had 10 teams sponsored by local volunteer organizations such as the VFW, American Legion, Kiwanis, Elks, Police Boys Club, St. Mary’s and Masons. As the years went on, Blessed Sacrament and Gibson Youth Activities fielded teams.

In 2007, the Mail League and its feeder organizations consolidated into the Valley Stream Baseball League. It sponsors two travel teams for ages 9 to 19, the Colts and the Hawks. Regular league teams are for players ages 4 to 12.

This year, to celebrate the league’s roots, it will again partner with the local newspaper to offer weekly game summaries. Each week during the season, space will be set aside in the Herald for Baseball League updates, standings and highlights.