Little League celebrates its opening day

Hundreds of parents and young baseball players marched down Maple Avenue towards Hickey Field as part of the Rockville Centre Little League opening day parade on April 22.

The opening day ceremonies followed with a special presentation of the RVC Little League Hall of Fame’s inaugural class of 2023. Honorees included Bill Carey and Chris Carter, who played on the 1978 Eastern Regional championship team — the first on Long Island to advance to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Inductees also included coaches Charlie Jansen and Bob Glover, league administrator and 10-year president, Bob Klein, and league founders William Seward and John Nofi, who both played an instrumental role in opening the organization up to more children with the creation of the minor league.

RVC Little League was founded in 1951. In the 72 years since, league teams have gone on to win more than 100 district championships, 24 Nassau County championships, 20 Long Island titles, and four state championships.

Following the presentation, Carey, who went on to play for St. John’s University and the Chicago White Sox minor league team, was invited to the plate to throw out the ceremonial first pitch to start the season.

Teams then hit the field to warm up before the opening game.