Hundreds of Smithfield Little Leaguers Mark Opening Day

Moment of Silence Observed for Longtime League Supporters David Balcom & Peter Connell

Smithfield Little Leaguers, their families and friends, marked the beginning of the Little League season in an opening day Saturday morning at Whipple Field, where the Smithfield High School Chorus sang the National Anthem and veterans who reside in the town threw out the first pitches. 

Prior to the ceremonial first pitches, players, coaches, families and others paused for a moment of silence in memory of David Balcom and Peter Connell, ardent supporters of Little League Baseball in Smithfield who recently passed away.

“Little League Baseball instills in players and coaches important values such as courage, character and loyalty,” said Kevin Bourque, Smithfield Little League President.  “As part of the 2013 Opening Day ceremony, Smithfield Little League was honored to welcome three local veterans, who exemplify those values through their service, who threw out the ceremonial first pitches of the season.  The league also paused to remember David Balcom and Peter Connell, whose tireless efforts contributed to the growth of youth sports in Smithfield.  To those businesses and organizations that have generously sponsored teams this year, the players and coaches offer their sincere gratitude.”

David Balcom lived in Smithfield for more than 25 years where he served as Supervisor in the town’s Recreation Department for 22 years following service in the United States Marine Corps.  A fan of baseball and the Boston Red Sox, he coached many baseball and basketball teams and was honored as Smithfield Little League’s Man of the Year.  David was also instrumental in the effort to establish the War Memorial in Deerfield Park.  He passed away in March following many years of tireless promotion for youth athletics in the town.

After 31 years at the State Department of Labor and Training, Peter Connell began a second career as a reporter covering local sports for the Observer and Valley Breeze.  When he was not covering sports, Peter could often be found umpiring softball, Little League and high school games.  He was a member of the Association of Baseball Umpires of Rhode Island and the Society for American Baseball Research.  Peter passed away last October after decades of support for youth athletics in both his words and actions.

After the moment of silence, three veterans who reside in Smithfield threw out the ceremonial first pitches.  Gary Gearheart served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, Cambodia Counter-offensive, Grenada, Joint Task Force-Special Ops., Operation Urgent Fury, Persian Gulf War and Desert Storm/Desert Shield.  Leo R. Swider served in the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam.  U.S. Marine Jay Colon served in Operation Desert Fox.

Total of 28 teams representing the Instructional League, T-Ball, A, AA, AAA, Majors and Challenger Division played their first games of the season after the ceremony. 

For more information about the league, please visit http://www.smithfieldlittleleague.com/.