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By Nichelle Henry
Brooklyn Daily
No matter what the weather is like, you know spring has truly arrived when fresh-faced kids put on their baseball caps and step up to the plate.
Little Leaguers across the borough took the field on Saturday and Sunday to banish the winter blues and usher in the 2014 baseball season.
Kids in St. Anselm’s Church league in Bay Ridge, the Kings Bay league in Sheepshead Bay, and pint-sized players in Park Slope all held their official opening-day parades and games to kick off the season over the weekend.
In Southern Brooklyn, the St. Anselm’s Youth Baseball Opening Day began outside the St. Anselm’s School and proceeded to Fort Hamilton High School. The Kings Bay Baseball teams started their season with a parade down Nostrand Avenue ending at the league’s ballfield on Coyle Street.
“My hopes for this season is to mold as many children as possible and teach them the game of baseball,” said Larry Umlamb, coach of the Kings Bay Sluggers and the Kings Bay Yankees.
Local politicians didn’t pass up the chance to celebrate America’s national pastime, and press the flesh with parents. Councilmen Vincent Gentile (D–Bay Ridge) and Alan Maisel (D–Mill Basin), Steve Levin (D–Boerum Hill), and Brad Lander (D–Park Slope) all turned out to support their local little leaguers. The events also drew state Sen. Marty Golden (R–Bay Ridge), Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein (D–Sheepshead Bay) and even Rep. Michael Grimm (R–Bay Ridge).
Mayor DeBlasio spoke at a Little League kick off event in Prospect Park.
The season consists of about 16 games and lasts until the end of June.