People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring
–Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby, nicknamed “The Rajah”
By Maryanne Saxon
The wait is over!
After months of quiet inactivity– when the only footprints on home plate were from a squirrel or two–the Ginty Field baseball complex came alive once more over the weekend to celebrate Opening Day of the 2016 spring baseball season.
The MAALL board pulled out all the stops- Opening day 2016 delivered bubbles, a fog machine, confetti bombs and balloons! Photo by Maryanne Saxon
“Opening Day is like Christmas, except it’s warmer.” — Pete Rose
The Morristown Area American Little League’s opening day felt an awful lot like Christmas. Hundreds of players, fans, family and friends came together to enjoy good food, dance to great tunes, take home free loot from MAALL sponsors and, of course, share in the love of the game.
AJ Myers, player for MAALL Woodland Hook and Ladder enjoys a free slice from Pomodoro pizza. Photo by Maryanne SaxonMAALL players from farm league up to the 50/70 division cheered on their peers and high fived the 2016 season. Photo by Maryanne Saxon.
Butch Mustion, MAALL president and master of ceremonies, opened the festivities by introducing the MAALL teams and coaches, and honoring all of the 12-year-old players.
Butch then was pleased to welcome Morris Township Deputy Mayor Peter Mancuso, Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty and Township Committeewoman Louise Johnson onto the Ginty 1 mound to throw out the first pitches.
The 2016 MAALL season is official… thanks to these local officials for throwing the first pitches! Morris Township Committeewoman Louise Johnson, Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty, Morris Township Deputy Mayor Peter Mancuso. Photo by Maryanne Saxon.President Butch Mustion welcomes the crowd and enjoys the day. The 2016 season may mark his last term as league president, a position he knocked out of the park… although rumor has it, if Butch retires, MAALL members will riot. Photo by Maryanne Saxon.
The MAALL president expressed gratitude to all the sponsors who made the day’s event and the program possible.
“Our sponsors’ support and contributions have created a throwback feel to the days of smalltown USA, when communities rallied around their hometown teams.
“In turn, our MAALL families show their appreciation by shopping, dining, and supporting our sponsors. The impact that the sponsors have reaches beyond the MAALL families. Anyone driving down Woodland Avenue on a sunny spring afternoon can’t help but notice the 60 + sponsor banners proudly hanging from the outfield fences of our Ginty fields. Little League baseball is alive and well in Morristown,” Mustion said.
Shoprite of Cedar Knolls, Pomodoro Pizza, Parisi Speed School, and Morristown Bagels were a few of the MAALL sponsors on-site contributing to the day’s fun and excitement.
Coach East, Coach Lucigiani and their squad were all smiles as they waited for the National Anthem. Photo by Maryanne Saxon.
Opening Day 2016 was even more exciting than usual because Ginty’s Field 1 got to showcase its new scoreboard. Donated by the 2015 Bushes team, parent and MAALL supporter Richard Szuch was thrilled to attend the celebration and share fond memories of his MAALL ball days.
“I feel like the luckiest man in the world…. it does not get better than this,” he said.
Szuch sang the praises of league coaches, players and parents. Well…he kinda praised the parents.
“Throughout my little league experience, I always heard about the insanity of the parents …. I am here today to tell you that….. it’s all true”!
MAALL parent Dan Ligorner and MAALL sponsor Richard Szuch look forward to lighting up the Ginty 1 scoreboard for the 2016 season. Photo by Maryanne SaxonDo these fine folks look like the type to yell at an ump for making a bad call? Photo by Maryanne Saxon
Little League baseball is a very good thing because it keeps the parents off the streets. ~Yogi Berra
The crowds who come to cheer the kids and eat a couple of hot dogs witness only a small percentage of the hard work that seemingly never stops, even after the bats are nestled in their bags and young players are off to their next activity.
The MAALL board of directors tirelessly work to create well balanced teams; order uniforms; arrange managers; provide nonstop communications; create, organize and update schedules; secure sponsors; initiate capital improvements and oversee daily field maintenance.
Everyone working for MAALL is a volunteer, pitching in for the love of the players and the game. The Greater Morristown community is fortunate to have such dedicated baseball lovers!
