Mt. Kisco Little Leaguers Turn Out for Opening Day

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. — The baseball diamond was a veritable rainbow of color at the Mount Kisco Little League 2012 Opening Day ceremonies at Leonard Park.

A parade of Little League players in bright team shirts snaked down Main Street toward the parade’s end point at the park's Dave Feldman Memorial Field for a ceremony that would precede three Opening Day games.

Coaches George Hoyt and Keith Ferguson of the Brian J. McCarthy CPA team had an excited group of children on their hands at the parade’s start at the old Mount Kisco post office.

“It was fun to see them start learning to play the game,” said Ferguson, whose son Aiden, 6, plays on the team of 5-, 6- and 7-year-olds.

From the post office, the parade was led by police motorcycle escort and the Mount Kisco Ancients Fife & Drum Corps, which also played the national anthem at the ceremony.

Mount Kisco village Trustee Anthony Markus was given the honor of throwing out the first pitch. “I’m proud of everyone here who made this day happen,” he said.

State Assembly member Bob Castelli and state Sen. Greg Ball were also in attendance.

Ed Reilly, president of Mount Kisco Little League, told the boys and girls, “This is one of those days you’ll never forget."

Reilly praised chief fundraiser Beth Romski and Recreation Supervisor Allison Eckhart, who organizes the older children in the village's minor leagues.

He also recognized the numerous local businesses and organizations that act as Little League sponsors. “You need to patronize them as much as you can,” Reilly said. “They’ve been with us for a long time.”

The Elks Club has been sponsoring teams for more than 50 years. Mount Kisco resident Justin Pieragostini, nephew of Superintendent of Recreation Charles Pieragostini, was on the Elks team when he was young.

With team names like Cassidy Flynn Funeral Home, the defending playoff and league champions; M&R Deli; Whalen’s Moving and Storage; and Northern Westchester Hospital, how do the children root for their teams?

“We use first names,” because it helps the children make new friends, said Pieragostini, who coaches his son A.J., 6, on the Mount Kisco Professional Eye Care team.

“It’s all about sportsmanship in the end,” he said.

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