44°
EASTCHESTER, N.Y. Nick Baglio arrived Sunday for opening ceremonies and was greeted with a surprise.
The 12-year-old and catcher for the Tigers in the majors division would be catching the ceremonial baseball first pitch at the 59th annual Eastchester Little League opening ceremonies on Francis X. ORourke Field.
Even though the season began in April, Eastchester president John Cinguina said the opening ceremonies have always been held on the first Sunday of May.
Baglio, a seventh-grader at Eastchester Middle School in his second majors season, was on the receiving end of a pitch thrown by legendary Eastchester baseball coach and former athletic director, Dom Cecere.
I was really excited, said Baglio of being called on to catch the first pitch. Maybe he will remember me when I try out for varsity.
Following the opening ceremonies, Baglio and his Tigers teammates were preparing to take the field against the Rangers.
Cinguina presided over his 11th opening ceremonies as president. However, his affiliation with the league goes back to his playing days, from 1977 to 1980. Cinguina played with or against many of the current Eastchester Little League board members, managers, coaches and parents, including former major-leaguer, John Doherty. Doherty is currently a coach for the little league Tigers.
Master of ceremony Vince Forte, who noted it was his 45th opening ceremonies, pointed out that Eastchester Little League has the greatest number of former players involved.
This was my favorite sport when I was a kid and we all do it because we love baseball and the kids, Cinguina said.
Eastchester Little League honored its 2011 District 20 champions the 9-to-10-year-old softball team and the 11-to-12-year-old baseball team.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Eastchester and receive free news updates.
