Tewksbury Youth Baseball Celebrates Start of New Season

Little League Baseball Opening Day under sunny skies.

It doesn't get much better than that.

And so it was, Sunday afternoon, as Tewksbury Youth Baseball officially kicked off the 2011 campaign.

The players marched in a parade from the Ryan School to the fields on East Street. Ceremonies at the field included speeches by politicians, the National Anthem by Jordan Ezekiel, the Little League Pledge by Anthony DeSisto, and the Parents' Pledge, recited by Peter Cafferty.

And finally, the ceremonial first pitches were thrown out by  Randy Zackulas, George Zackulas and James Fallon, members of the Tewksbury TYBL's new Challenger Division. Catching the first pitches were Chad Oliveira of the Indians, Jonathan Verrill of the Phillies and Justin Keough of the Royals.

Members of the two fledgling Challenger teams were honored by sitting in the float at the start of the big parade.

Photographer Theresa Gilman captured these images from the day's events.

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