Sports
New Hyde Park Little League Holds 2013 Parade
Players, parents and local officials marched through village streets Saturday morning.
Led by a color guard from both the local American Legion 1089 and VFW 8031, the New Hyde Park Little League Parade marched through the heart of the village Saturday morning, signaling the imminent start of the 2013 season.
Following close behind were local and state politicians including NY State Sen. Jack Martins, NY State Assemblyman Edward Ra and Nassau Legis. Richard Nicolello. The village also had members present with new mayor Robert Lofaro, village trustee Lawrence Montreuil and village justice Chris Devane.
As always however, the vast majority of the parade was a candy-colored rainbow of youthful players wearing their uniforms as they marched behind their team banners, walking from Applebee’s on Leonard Boulevard, west on Jericho Turnpike before turning south on Covert Avenue to Stewart Avenue and arriving at Nuzzi Field where they lined up on the cusp of the infield awaiting the opening day ceremony to start the new season.
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“All our new families we welcome you and our old time families we welcome you too,” outgoing little league president Tom Pellegrino said, thanking the village “for everything they’ve done for us and a special thank you to outgoing mayor Dan Petruccio and we know we are in good hands going forward with Bob Lofaro.”
Lofaro threw out the first pitch for the boys while Mike Daloia, the new softball commissioner, threw out the first pitch for the girls.
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The new mayor recalled growing up playing and spending time in Nuzzi Park, ice skating in the sump across the street and “having to dodge all the hard balls frozen on the surface. You’d have to skate around them.”
A member of the little league board for 14 years, Lofaro said that he “was really looking forward to” his first pitch as mayor, “That’s why I’m saving the ball.”
Pellegrino will be handing the reins of little league president off to Nancy Gregory this season.
“Our little league continues,” Gregory said after being introduced by Pellegrino. “It continues on instilling sportsmanship and character in our kids while fostering our friendships and fond memories for all families involved. This is in addition to the numerous championships our kids have won. This is a testament to Tom’s hard work, tireless effort and sense of community. I know this; I worked beside him.”
She added to the crowd of players and parents that “we must continue to dedicate ourselves to this sport that has given all of us so much in return. I’m up for the task. And I invite all of you to come, join us.”
The first game of the season was played shortly after the ceremony with the first pitch thrown at noon. Nuzzi Fuel, in black, was taking on Sportloft, in red.
