Play Ball: Opening Day For Little League

Baseball players and parents turning out by the hundreds where greeted with picture-perfect weather for the Pleasanton Foothill Little League Opening Day 2013 this morning. Teams amassed on the fields in their fresh, new uniforms buzzing with energy to start the first day of baseball season.

Gael Knight, the Pleasanton Foothill Little League President, said opening day is an exciting time for families.

"The kids get to put their uniforms on and get out there and play," he said.

Pleasanton City Councilmember Karla Brown agreed that opening day is an exciting event.

"It could not be a better day for it," Brown said. "My advice to the players is don't pick the dandelions in the grass during the game."

Local leaders and dignitaries from around Pleasanton gathered on the dirt diamond as players waited in team clusters for their turn to run onto the field.  Congressman Eric Swalwell, Vice-Mayor Cheryl Cook-Kallio, Councilmember Karla Brown, , along with others representing the Pleasanton Foothill Little League watched as the teams sprinted out onto the grass. The dignitaries later threw out the traditional first pitch of the season.

Swalwell (D-Dublin) spoke during the opening ceremonies.

"This is such a great sport that brings families together," Swalwell said.

Myra Villena, who is the District 57 Special Events Coordinator, attended the event and spoke about Livermore being selected to host the  Little League Intermediate World Series this year.

"This is the first year we are hosting it," she commented. "District 57 is the official host but it will be held in Livermore."

During her speech she asked for sponsors and volunteers to sign up to help with the World Series.

Officials from the Pleasanton Foothill Little League paid tribute to of 2012. Gonzaga's wife, Kimberly, and his children, sat on the diamond as the league announced that the Positive Coaching Alliance Coach of the Year award, which Gonzaga had won during his time as a coach, was being renamed as the "Memorial Joselito Gonzaga Award."

[Related article: Popular League Sports Coach Joselito Gonzaga Dies]

Lunch was donated to all of the players by Teralyn Fredericks, owner of the Togo's Sandwiches in Pleasanton.

Did you attend the ceremony? Tell us in the comments section below.

Don't forget to share your sports pictures with Patch and Pleasanton. Preserve all those great sporting moments by snapping a picture and uploading it to Instagram using the hashtag #PtownLL. If you're in charge of publicity for your team, make sure to post your results and other news here: Pleasanton.patch.com/Announcements. You can also upload photos directly to Patch here.