ORANGE — After weeks and weeks of practices, members of the Orange Little League finally got on the diamond for the opening ceremonies at Muzzey Field on Saturday morning.
A wet field did not dampen the moods of the players who were all smiles as competitive games kicked off in the 60th season for Orange Little League.
Steve Ringer is the president of Orange Little League.
“I am looking for them to have fun and have a great experience,” Ringer said. “But also to learn the fundamentals. The first two are the most important but we want them to be able to throw, catch and hit.”
Sam Connors threw out the ceremonial first pitch as the opening day starter for Dick’s Auto.
“We have a month of practice,” Connors said. “We all kind of get tired of practice and we wanted to play a real game. Once they say ‘play ball’ it’s really fun.”
On the other side, Gavin Young threw out the first pitch for Orange Legion.
“It was cool,” Young said. “I liked actually pitching and throwing strikes.”
Young made his first ever start for Orange Legion and struck out four hitters.
“I was not expecting that,” Young said. “It was very, very interesting because I have never pitched before.”
The morning began with a pancake breakfast served to hungry baseball fans before opening ceremonies.
Each team lined up and had their individual names called as they ran the bases. Players then formed a high-five line from first base to second base.
After the Little League pledge, read by Ringer, and the national anthem, sung by Julie Bouchard, Dick’s Auto and Orange Legion took the field to get the season under way.
In the first game of the season, Dick’s Auto beat Orange Legion in Major League action, 10-4.
Dick’s Auto scored three runs in the first inning highlighted by a two-run double by Aiden Britt. Connors led off the inning with a double down the third base line that stayed fair by a sliver.
Connors continued to help himself with an RBI single that made the score 4-0. Eugene Smith brought home a run in the third win an RBI groundout for Dick’s Auto.
Dick’s Auto broke the game open in the top of the fourth with five runs. Hunter Brooks hit a two-run double before Britt added a single that scored two more runs.
For Orange Oil Kyle Rogers led off the fourth with a double and later scored on a wild pitch.
Dylan Young had an RBI for Orange Oil. Pat Gillespie also knocked in a run.
Young and Elias Roberts both had hits in the second inning for Orange Oil.
Connors got the win on the mound for Dick’s Auto, striking out three batters in two innings of work. Maddox Whitman pitched in relief and fanned two hitters.
“We came here and all were hitting well,” Connors said. “We were cheering each other on and it felt like we were playing together.”
Jayden Delgado pitched two innings for Orange Oil with two strikeouts.
In the Minor League game, Orange Police defeated Orange Fire, 6-5, with a rally in the final inning.
Freeland Ringer pitched two innings of one-run baseball for Orange Fire.
Owen Barill pitched two innings for Orange Police. Sawyer Lacoy singled for Orange Fire.
