Parents, volunteers, and spectators from the Rye community gathered Saturday morning to watch over 700 Rye Little League Baseball and Rye Girls Softball players march from Rye’s Metro North Train Station down Purchase Street, then over to Disbrow Park, a tradition that dates back to the youth baseball league’s founding in 1957.
The streets came alive with bright-colored jerseys and banners, team chants, and band ensembles, with families and friends camped along the route to cheer on the little leaguers in the 69th annual opening day parade.
The opening ceremony featured remarks from Rye Little League President Danny McCarthy and Rye Girls Softball Co-President Jennifer Manney, a ceremonial first pitch from Mayor Josh Nathan to Rye High School senior catcher Jackson Pineault, and — as always — hot dogs provided by Jerry’s Post Market.
“Everybody here just has amazing memories of themselves or their kids playing here. I was a coach when my kid was little and we played here,” said Nathan, who first celebrated opening day back in 2003. “In Rye, we come together, no matter what. We walk down the main street together, walk by historic homes and through a graveyard that goes back to the 1660s. And then, we come to this field, have a big picnic and then play ball — that’s just what it’s all about.”
Rye Girls Softball (RGS) is celebrating the biggest spring season in its 51-year history with 21 teams: 15 in recreation leagues and, for the first time, six travel teams.
“We take time to make sure that girls are with who they know. The recreation experience is really about building community,” said RGS Co-President Genevieve Gilmore. “It truly is about building belonging, because if they don’t feel a sense of belonging, they don’t stay. And we really hope these players stay, and they stay with the sport.”
The travel teams, which will compete in the Greater Hudson Valley travel league, allow top players to experience extra reps, harder competition, and more bonding, with games at Rye and on the road.
“It’s the first time that any of our Rye teams will be doing something of that level and traveling to represent Rye, and so that’s really been the most exciting,” Manney said. “It’s putting us out there as a serious travel team … And it’s only going to build the school program, eventually. Just showing the younger girls that the older girls are doing these things and they, one day, will as well.”
Thanks to the Rye Rec and Rye Rec Commission, both the travel and the recreational leagues will benefit from major improvements to the home field at Disbrow, including moving the backstop, new dugout floors, a new mound system usable for every age group, and a scoreboard in left field.
“Recreation has always been the priority,” Manney said. “I say, ‘The reason for the season is rec.’ That’s what this season is truly about.”
Rye Little League also has record-breaking registration numbers, with nearly 550 baseball players, 5U through 12U, across 42 teams.
“It is record numbers for us,” said John Louis, a coach and league board member taking part in his ninth parade. “Our Intermediates went from 10 teams to 12 teams, the Majors went from nine to 10 teams, and then Tee Ball and Minors were record signups too.”
One possible reason for the community’s increased interest in baseball is Rye High School’s run to the New York state semifinals last season. The Garnets were also in attendance for the parade before their home opener against New Rochelle, which they won 10-8 for their fourth straight victory.
“They have a blast, it’s fun to see,” Louis said of Rye’s baseball and softball players, young and old. “Just to have a recreational league where all of these kids love it is great.”
Mayor Josh Nathan throws a ceremonial first pitch. Video/Ariana Ottrando
