By:Nick Buglione
Escorted by Nassau County police and the East Meadow and Westbury fire departments, scores of children paraded their way down Carman Avenue to the ballfields on Salisbury Park Drive, as small handfuls of proud parents looked on.
With the baseball diamond-s lush green outfield grass filled with some of the 600 boys and girls set to participate in Central Nassau Little League-s 52nd season, President Bob Carr reflected on the game-s importance.
This is as good an opportunity to learn about teamwork as there is, Carr told the kids, who range in age from 5 to 15 years old and come primarily from Salisbury, as well as small parts of East Meadow and Levittown. You want to learn how to be a good teammate because you-ll always be a part of a team.
Although celebrating the start of a new season, the league took time to commemorate former coaches and players that have died.
A plaque remembering Bob Schilt, Pat Volino, Chris Williams Kevin Robinson and Scott Sloane is to be placed at the snack bar, a highly visible and heavily trafficked spot, Carr announced.
A superb athlete and former Central Nassau ballplayer, Sloane died tragically in a March 2003 car accident on Old Country Road. The 17-year-old was on his way to Chaminade High School.
Sloane-s mother Debbie, as well as relatives representing the Schilt, Volino, Williams and Robinson families, turned out for the ceremony.
We-ve reflected upon each of them over the years, Carr said. But this was an opportunity to reflect on them all at the field.
On a lighter note, the Central Nassau Little League offered thanks to outgoing President Ron Landini, who headed up the league for 10 years.
Being president of any community organization is not an easy job, Carr said, noting the hours of service Landini and his familywife Sue, daughter Stacey and son Brianhave put into the league.
Landini said his dedication stemmed from a desire to impact neighborhood children. Somebody asked me if I miss this yet, and I didn-t miss it until now, he said, as he stepped to the podium to address the crowd. It has been my absolute pleasure to be a part of the kids- lives.
