Nassau News

For youngsters, playing Little League baseball is an opportunity to make new friends, play ball and wear a snazzy uniform, but it is also a family activity that starts with a little paperwork as this photo shows at last week's late signup for league play in Uniondale.

 

 

By David Diamond
Nassau News Staff Writer

Spring is just right around the corner, and along with it comes a favorite time of year for about 200 Uniondale children who have signed up for Little League baseball.

The last day to sign up was last Saturday at Smith Street Park for an exciting array of activities that go further than just a schedule of baseball games.

"The league most certainly brings a sense of community to the area. That's the whole goal," said Randy Hall, involved with the league for the past nine years. "Most of my social life is around this, so there is a sense of community.”

The league prides itself on using community volunteers, many of whom are parents with children in the league, to keep things running smoothly. The volunteers then become coaches, managers, assistants -- and those are just jobs that operate baseball. Some may take a board member position, become a team mom to supervise or run concessions and organize the league-wide picnic scheduled for June 4.

"This is how we raise our kids," said Mary Morton, a league board member and Hofstra graduate.

Opening day will be April 29 when virtually the entire community plus local politicians will join in on festivities, beginning with the parade that starts at Gerard Street and ends up at Uniondale Park where the honored guests will speak. The league will soon choose an individual to throw out the season's first pitch to signify the beginning of a new season.

"We've invited all of the dignitaries of Nassau County," said Morton. "(Town of Hempstead Supervisor) Kate Murray has responded, (Councilwoman) Dorothy Goosby has responded, and we also invited County Executive Tom Suozzi. We invited all of the principals within the school district and the athletic director from the high school."

The league should end up with 16 teams broken down into four teams in four divisions.

The importance of the league is apparent in the voices of Hall and other board members on hand at the late registration.  

"It's an opportunity to not just watch my child develop, but kind of expand the children's minds," Hall said. "It has become a very important thing in my life because I like to help the children, and if they don't have direction, perhaps I can provide direction that I know they need."