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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. Second-year Little League teammates Bobby Beaton and Michael Perri marched with other Lugnuts team members Saturday in the seventh annual White Plains Little League Parade.
Beaton, Perri and the 2,000-plus attendees eventually made their way onto Gedney Little League Field to kick off the 2012 season.
Caution tape bordered the infield of one field so it could be kept fresh for the team's first official game an hour later.
Beaton marched in the parade for the first time, as he was away with his family in previous years. Regardless, he is proud to once again to have the opportunity to play Little League baseball.
Im excited to play the game against other Little League teams, said Beaton.
Perri looks forward to playing Americas pastime, regardless of the outcome.
Im happy that we get to be competitive, said Perri.
Perris mother, Adele, said playing in the league allows her son to expand his network and develop as a person.
He keeps meeting new people and making new friends, she said.
Beatons father, Rob, is excited for the season to start every year, and sees an exceptional amount of pride and glee in the players faces.
Its a great day for us. The kids are more excited for it, he said.
Some 850 baseball and softball players ages 5 to 15 comprise 83 teams.
The league is run by a board of directors, under the direction of President Tom Hauser. Past board President Rich Masseroni is now the organizations director of scheduling. Chet Gottshall serves as secretary.
The event was also made possible by the large number of volunteers who gave their time for a good cause. City and state officials and workers were on hand to help bring in the new season, as well.
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