Little League Parade Marks Start of New Season

If you ask what Saturday means to Wilmington Little League players, they’ll give you a much different answer than Joe Mullens. But there is one thing everyone is looking forward to. It’s baseball season.

The annual Little League Opening Day parade steps off from Town Common at 9:30 a.m. as participants march to for a ceremony that signifies the start of the 2012 season.

“The highlight for me is the ceremonial pitch in which we honor two of Wilmington’s veterans,” said Mullens, Wilmington Little League’s Special Events Coordinator, who said the players have a different idea of excitement for the day. “(The highlight for them) is easy. Hot dogs for all at the end of the ceremonies.”

In addition to the ballpark snack, there will also be plenty of other highlights on the day. The Wilmington Minutemen will be in attendance along with the Lowell Spinners mascot, the and members of the pep band.

Lauren Azevedo will sing the National Anthem prior to the first pitch of the first game of the year. The Major League Division’s Athletics and Yankees will open the season with the initial tilt.

Little League officials will combine with Boy Scout Troop 56 to collect non-perishable items for the Wilmington Food Pantry from 9-9:30 a.m. next to the 4^th of July Building.

Mullens said Saturday is a great way to kick off the season, and provide lasting memories for the players involved.

“I look forward to Opening Day every year,” said Mullens. “Little League baseball is part of our culture. It’s the same game played by our fathers and our fathers’ fathers. You learn individual effort in a team context and if you should fail, you get another chance.”