By Nick Buglione
Dormant during the cold winter months, it blossoms with the first flowers of spring and heats up through the dog days of summer. Peaking with the championships of the fall, it gives way to brisk winds and shorter days until it is revived once again.
On the morning of April 27, part of the East Meadow community was reborn.
Donning their caps and cleats, more than1,000 local youths packed into Veterans' Memorial Park, at East Meadow and Prospect avenues, to kick off the 50th season of the East Meadow Little League with their annual parade.
Even though games began about two weeks ago, the kids teemed with enthusiasm and anticipation of getting the fledgling season into full swing.
"You get to run around and have a lot of fun," said 7-year-old little leaguer Collin Skinner of the A&C-sponsored team.
In a time when baseball's true identity is often obscured by multi-million dollar contracts and the glamour of television, Skinner's simple comments revealed our nation's pastime for what it really is--a kid's game.
And the East Meadow Little League seems to have an abundance of kids, with over 1,400 children registered to play this year, making it one of the largest on Long Island.
"We keep getting bigger and bigger," said East Meadow Little League Commissioner Bill Mueger. "We're expanding like crazy and I don't know where to put them."
Over 100 teams, including four in the Challenger Division for the handicapped, will play during the season on the fields off Merrick Avenue as well as the ones in Eisenhower and Speno parks. Funding of the league comes primarily from the sponsors of the teams, fund-raising and registration fees.
This season, which runs until Labor Day, all team uniforms will bear a patch commemorating the 50th anniversary and an American flag, similar to the ones worn around professional sports, in memory of Sept. 11.
Given the sheer volume of participants, coordinating an opening day parade is a daunting task that takes nearly the whole year to plan, according to Dominic Tinnerello, one of the organizers.
"It's a year-round process, we meet once a month as a board but we work constantly because there's always things that have to be fixed," said Tinnerello. "It's good to see all the work come to fruition."
Waving American flags and proudly displaying banners of the local businesses sponsoring their teams, the mass of kids and coaches took to the streets where residents had already turned out to greet them, marching north on East Meadow Avenue and turning west on Front Street.
From there they headed back north on Merrick Avenue, the last leg of their pilgrimage, to the ball fields just off the Meadowbrook Parkway--where they were greeted by local elected officials and a buffet of food to celebrate the auspicious start of the league's 50th season.
There a new baseball mural, painted on the field house wall, was unveiled and a few of the league's "old-timers," that is grown-ups between 19 and 30, played a friendly game to close out the day.
"Little League is important," said Stephen Lasalla, a director of the East Meadow Little League. "It builds character and a sense of teamwork and it gives the kids a sense of accomplishment playing with the teams."
Hopes soared among the players, which range in ages 5 to 18 among the boys and 5 to 16 among the girls, on just how well their respective teams will do this year. Since some of the teams have yet to play a game, a few of the kids jokingly bragged that so far they're undefeated.
Yet winning and losing isn't the point, said Charlie Curcio, coach of the 11 and 12-year-old boys team backed by AJ and Sons.
"There are times when coaches can get too worked up about winning the game," said Curcio, now in his sixth year as a little league skipper. "Of course you have to have a goal out there, you want to try and win, but it's not the only thing. It's about teaching them how to play right and play together and how to do the right thing."
While his team has already played a few games prior to the official opening day, Curcio admits he doesn't even know their record but estimates they are somewhere around the .500 mark.
"I like our chances this year because we have a great team," said Andy Stanley, 11, third baseman and outfielder for the G.F. Auto Repair club.
Like many of his peers, Stanley is passionate about baseball and hopes to one day play it professionally, which isn't so far-fetched considering the East Meadow Little League has already spawned a premier major league pitcher.
Before 1988 Cy Young Award winner Frank Viola was baffling hitter in the majors, he was mowing down kids in East Meadow. Viola went on to enjoy a successful career tat spanned 14 seasons, including a 1987 World Series victory that earned him the most valuable player award.
With relatives still playing in the East Meadow Little League today, Viola remains active in the program. Though he makes his home in Florida, he flies up every September and partakes in the league's award ceremony.
This year's ceremony is slated to take place on Sept. 13 at Chateau Briand in Westbury. For tickets, call (516) 794-2227.
