NORWICH ― The region and the state is full of successful Little Leagues. But few youth baseball and softball organizations can stage as spectacular an Opening Day ceremony as Norwich.
Norwich Little League held its Opening Day festivities in front of a crowd of 700 at Thomas A. Dodd Stadium Saturday morning under sunny skies. Over 260 uniformed players ranging from T-ballers and Major League (11-12) baseball players to softball team participants from 9-to-14 years old took the traditional parade walk around the perimeter and warning track of Norwich's 29-year-old, 6,250-seat professional stadium in the Norwich Industrial Park.
"Dodd Stadium is one of the best things in town," Norwich Little League President Darek Pietruczuk said. "Many of the first-time players' parents praised us significantly for having the ceremony there. I want to give a lot of credit to Lee Walter (Sea Unicorns general manager) and his crew. They are always welcoming, helpful and supportive."
These are not easy times for Little Leagues because of America's generally lagging interest in baseball and the influx of spring soccer and lacrosse leagues providing other athletic alternatives.
Prior to 2010, Norwich Little League serviced about 500 kids. Pietruczuk, however, says numbers have stabilized in recent years thanks to a resurgence in the softball program. Norwich's Senior League All-Stars won the 2023 State Championship.
The softball all-stars were also honored later in the summer during a ceremony for the installation of lights to the softball field. Norwich Public Utilities put up light poles about the same time former league president Yamil Dip found unused lights in a New London storage bin. D.B. Lunt Electrical Contractors completing the wiring and electrical work.
That positive development is something that Peter Nystrom, Mayor of Norwich and a speaker at the ceremony, wants to see for the future of Dodd Stadium. Nystrom views Dodd, former home of Class AA minor league teams until 2012 and Class A teams until 2021, as a valuable city resource.
The Norwich Sea Unicorns of the Futures League, a regional college summer circuit, play from June to August. The games, however, don't draw as many fans as Dodd did for the Yankees or Tigers minor league professional affiliates.
Nystrom, an avid supporter of baseball in Norwich, asked for public input on what the city should do with Dodd Stadium in the future.
“The future of Dodd Stadium is an important issue and your voice should be heard,” Nystrom said. “The future should be decided by you, not seven people on the city council.”
More: Norwich Free Academy baseball 'headed in right direction'
But for one morning in April, Dodd shone with enthusiasm and pride.
Local singer Nancy Menhart sang the national anthem. Thomas LaFreniere, a 95-year-old Korean War veteran, Norwich firefighter and long-time Little League supporter, threw out a ceremonial first pitch, as did Dr. Hanna Kackielo of the Internal Medicine Group, a dedicated league sponsor.
The league sold Norwich Little League merchandise and concessions were provided by Larry Pontbriant Athletic Safety Fund, which donated food and kitchen supplies to benefit NLL.
“We're so lucky to have the ceremony in this beautiful stadium,” LaFreniere said. “Back in my day, we played in the road and had to pay for the windows we broke.”
More: Softball: Driscoll powers NFA to win over East Lyme
Pietruczuk concluded the ceremony by thanking the 47 volunteers, primarily coaches and administrators, for facilitating league operations.
“Without them we would not have a spring season,” Pietruczuk said. “Having said that, we do need more help.”
But hope abounded on Opening Day.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Hope abounds on Opening Day for Norwich Little League
Most Popular
Comments / 0