Fort Hunt Youth Baseball League Marks Opening Day

It was a dreary April morning, the type of weather that unfortunately happens all too often early in the spring.

But the clouds and dampness didn’t take anything away from Saturday’s Opening Day ceremonies for Fort Hunt Youth Athletic Association, as a healthy crowd came out to Red Stevens Field on the Carl Sandburg Middle School campus to ring in another baseball season.

The half-hour player parade and ceremony was the formal kickoff of the 2011 Little League season here. Players paraded on to the mud-soaked field, then Fort Hunt Little League president Paul Murphy led a brief ceremony, thanking the numerous parents and other volunteers who help make the league run.

The Fort Hunt Sportsmen’s Association also announced a $1,000 donation to the league.

In addition, the league presented the annual Paul A. Massey Volunteer of the Year Award to longtime league volunteer Rene Belanger, who has spent more than 10 years with the association.

“He epitomizes what a volunteer and contributor is,” Murphy said.

Belanger spoke briefly, noting the “magic” of youth baseball.

“Thank you for giving me a chance to be part of this,” he said.

West Potomac High School baseball coach Jim Sullivan also made an appearance, praising the league’s role in his team’s success. Thirteen of the 16 players on West Potomac’s varsity roster this season played in the Fort Hunt association's league at some point, Sullivan said.

While each speaker received plenty of applause, the biggest cheer came at the end of the event, when Murphy uttered these words:

“Let’s go play ball!”