Spring greets Little League opening ceremonies

Photos by Marny Malin-Representatives from each little league baseball team stood on the pitching mound Saturday during opening day ceremonies and recited the Little League Pledge.

As morning clouds - and the threat of spring showers - gave way to early morning sunlight, Fort Belvoir's little league season opened Saturday with a flurry of children celebrating America's favorite pastime.

Led by Youth Sports Director Jerry Arrington, 225 kids took to the Major-Minor Division Field with hats waving and smiles rivaling the sunrise. "I've been running them in for the past two years," Arrington said later with a smile of his own. "It's the best way to get the kids going."

As the children and coaches took their places around the baseball diamond, Arrington welcomed everyone to another season of baseball. He also introduced Bill Behring, Fort Belvoir's 36-season little league commissioner, and lauded his service to the installation.

"For him to be here for so many years, with no kids of his own in the program, it's just a great tribute to him," Arrington said.

"I've always loved kids," Behring said later. The former Sunday school teacher began his baseball career at Belvoir in the 80s as an assistant coach alongside a friend.

"What really gets me going is getting out there on the field with them, or seeing them at home and having them remember me from tryouts. That's the best part."

Behring took the field next with another round of thank-yous, including the parents and volunteers who make the league a success year after year.
MWR director Bill Parsons addressed the crowd with a speech about his own love of baseball, along with a sobering fact: statistics show baseball is on the decline nationally.
But with 10 tee-ball teams and more participants than last year here at Belvoir, Parsons acknowledged baseball, at least locally, was far from those waning numbers. "We're still growing them, right here, on baseball," he said.
Parsons then threw a pitch for a member of each Little League team to catch while spectators cheered them on.
After the last throw was caught, a representative of each team approached the mound and, in unison, recited both the Little League pledge and Pledge of Allegiance to thunderous applause at their conclusion.
With the season blessed by the opening ceremonies, Arrington mused on the importance of children's participation in athletics.
"It's instrumental in their lives, especially the little kids," he said. "It's important to keep them in sports, especially baseball. We want to keep them playing from tee-ball all the way up to the major and minor divisions."
Arrington hopes the large number of people moving to Fort Belvoir in the coming years will contribute to growing numbers in the youth sports programs as well, including up-and-comers like soccer and track. "I look forward to that," he said. "Our goal is to provide quality programs for youth for years to come."