West Hartford Youth Baseball Opening Day Honors First Responders

"Play ball!" was the instruction eagerly awaited by hundreds of kids as West Hartford Youth Baseball held season openers for all divisions Saturday morning.

At Wolcott Park, where all of the Major League teams enjoyed a day-long celebration, the festivities began with several "first pitches" and a proclamation honoring first responders for their roles in the recent Sandy Hook and Boston Marathon tragedies.

As he prepared to open the season, WHYBL President Rob Gallo also noted the inaugural use of the league's brand new press box at Wolcott Park, which was designed and built by a dedicated group of parent volunteers.

A moment of silence in honor of the victims of Sandy Hook and the Boston Marathon also preceded the day's activities.

After reading a proclamation from the Town of West Hartford declaring Saturday "West Hartford Youth Baseball Day," Deputy Mayor Shari Cantor threw out the first pitch of the season. It was caught by Nathan White of Talcott Transmission.

Cantor, whose sons played in the league, said it "really is a remarkable league," and she appreciated the experience her sons received.

WHYBL Vice President Robert Paolitto introduced Peter Gustafson, son of the late West Hartford Police Captain Jim Gustafson, a 42-year veteran who also spent more than 20 years as a coach for WHYBL. Peter Gustafson, the Hall High School freshman baseball coach, threw a commemorative pitch to his son Neil, a member of the West Hartford Exchange team.

After Caroline Crafts of Conard High School sang the National Anthem, Talcott Transmission and West Hartford Exchange heard the words they have eagerly awaited for the past 10 months: "Play ball!"