Little League Baseball and Softball Ready for Opening Day

Saturday, several hundred young Westborough baseball and softball players will open their season with a walk.

From Bay State Commons to Westborough High School.

Westborough Little League and Softball's Opening Day parade and festivities are "a longstanding tradition," league President Rob Nagi told selectmen Tuesday night.

The event starts at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Nagi told Westborough Patch that "I believe that people have come to expect some of the traditions of the parade and so we haven't changed too much about it" this year.

"That said, we are going to be asking the players to be a bit more involved in the program than in past years," he said.

"We are also playing several 'opening day' games on Saturday -- which is something we've not done in recent years because the parade, ceremony, and playing of games can make for a really long day for some of the younger players and families.  

"Hopefully, the weather will be fantastic and not a repeat of two years ago when it was in the 30's and raining -- which caused us to cancel it for the first time in decades."

Selectmen approved the parade.

Nagi said the league needs a "temporary road closure" of 15 to 30 minutes for the parade.

Nagi told Westborough Patch the league's programs will involve more than 500 kids ages five to 16, and more than 150 adult volunteers.

"These players represents about 50 different teams between our T-ball and Babe Ruth programs," he said.

"I know that there are going to be a number of potential conflicts, but we expect that about 350-400 people will participate in the parade and Opening Day ceremonies."

The parade will end at the Westborough High football field.

"After welcoming all, we will have Rich DiMare from KISS 108 sing the National Anthem to officially kick off the ceremony," Nagi said. 

"We will recognize the efforts of last year's 10-year old Jimmy Fund team, who raised a significant amount of money and awareness for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.  Then I will offer some brief thoughts on the upcoming season, and then we will then ask representative kids from each division of baseball and softball throw out the ceremonial first pitch, have the players and adult volunteers recite their pledges, and then end with some giveaways to the players.

"If all goes as planned, we will be done by 11:30 a.m., so the families can go enjoy their afternoons and play some baseball or softball later in the afternoon!"