On Saturday, April 17, the Gerritsen Beach Little League held their 58th Opening Season Ceremony for the 2010 Season. It is the oldest Little League in all of Brooklyn.

The parade kicked off at 10:00 am at the Resurrection Church Parking lot. Each of the teams, along with Resurrection Sports marched from Whitney Avenue to Larry Veiling Field (Cryus Avenue).

An opening prayer was given by Father Farrell followed by the National Anthem, by the Gerritsen Beach Marching Band.

During the ceremony, President Sal Mattaliano said “We are really trying to incorporate the Baseball and the Softball this year even though we are separate organizations. We are all one big family down here.”

The first pitch was thrown out by Tom Chandler, 85, who was with the little league since its inception.  Tom started out as a umpire and moved to coach the senior division for many years.

Dan Cavanagh, District 25  Little League Administrator, said “Not only was he a great coach but he was an inspiration to all of us both on and off the field.”

Here are some of the Teams this year with their respective sponsors.
Tigers – New Dutch Farms
Sabers – Cort Club
Chiefs – Doreen Greenwood Real Estate
Mets – Victorias Pizza
Knights – Matthews Council 5989

Photo Gallery – Flickr
Photo Gallery – Facebook

[Click for Larger]

[Parade Clip]

[Whole Ceremony 13 Minutes]
For those of you not able to attend here is a video, enjoy! Here is a friendly reminder for some you of : “you can’t have it both ways”.

Gerritsen Beach Little League Parade and Opening Ceremony

April 17, 2010

10am Kickoff at Whitney and Gerritsen Avenues

Opening Ceremony Approximately at 11:00 am
Larry Veiling Field Cryus and Gerritsen Avenues

All Organizations are invited to intend

For more information 917-539-1094

With the future extension of Seba Avenue Park with Phase II (Comfort Station) and what GerritsenBeach.net will call Phase III (sprinklers) the Larry Veling scoreboard based at the Little League Field will be forced to be moved.

Moved where is the question the Little League and the Parks Department will have to hash out (hopefully with a signed letter). The GB Little League needs to make sure that complete removal is not an option, otherwise we at GerritsenBeach.net predict everyone in GB will declare Jihad on the parks department.

After contacting Councilman Lew Fidlers office who is a driving force behind Seba Avenue Park. They say removal of the scoreboard is not an option just moved to a location away from the construction. Adding that their office will work with parks to make sure everything goes smoothly.

After speaking with members of the Little League (nameless for FEAR of retaliation from another GB group) relocating the scoreboard in right field is the general consensus right now -  of course – after construction begins.

The Annual Timmy “Tub” Girardot Pagans /Women’s Softball Game is a neighborhood tradition in Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn for good reason. The game raises money for the American Cancer Society. Each year the proceeds are brought to the Prospect Park Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk by a group of Gerritsen Beach residents registered as Team Hope. Team Hope is the only non-commercial group on the American Cancer Society’s list of top ten Brooklyn fundraisers. The success is an example of how one small Brooklyn Community can make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.

This years event was held on Saturday October 3rd and although the day threatened rain a good crowd showed up. Team Hope honored Julia Dash, who is a 10 year breast cancer survivor. Team Hope presented her with 10 roses and a 10 year survivor sweatshirt.

She gave a touching speech. (Apologies for dropping the camera)

Although the event was eventually rained out, im sure everyone had fun.

Here are the past events in all of their glory

2008 Group Shot – 2008 Photo Gallery

2007 Pagans – 2007 Photo Gallery

Note to the community: Sorry no pictures this year. This is what happens when I am told not to come and take pictures.

Its been 8 years since these memorials started and we always have a great turn out. Amazingly, around 300 people attended the memorial to honor the victims and survivors of September 11th.

The weathers timing couldn’t have been better; the rain had stopped a while before the memorial started.

The event consisted of a few small speeches, some songs, a beautiful poem by Nicole D’Agosta, and prayer (apologies no video this year).

GerritsenBeach.net was even mentioned and credited in a speech from our coverage of last year, with our opinion that kids under 13 (in 2007) really have no understanding of that day. James Giorgio, Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, extended our observation that these memorials need to be a lesson for kids. His point was that, parents and neighbors need to explain what that day meant to everyone and how they felt. The idea is that everyone can understand the event and that it wont be forgotten.

We here at GerritsenBeach.net love this event and think its wonderful and needed. However, we feel that the songs need to be toned down at this event. Four songs is too much, 300 people attended an event to remember the day, not to hear a song. Even though they sing very well and it’s appropriate, we feel that more poems, more stories, more people speaking would be a great way to have kids remember that day. On a side note, It wouldn’t hurt to position the crowd for better picture taking. (Hint, Hint: Move stuff around)

Photo Gallery and/orPurchase

GB Cares has been cleaning up the Gerritsen Beach Little League field next to seba avenue park.

New dirt has been coming in and soon grass will be planted. The area around the field is also being cleared up.

Gerritsen Beach Little League registration continues this Monday February 16th, at the Cort Club from 7pm to 9pm. Here are the registration dates, which have already been added to the calendar.

Registration is open to anyone between the ages of 5-15 years old. Anyone that reaches his/her 16″” birthday before July 31, 2008 will be too old. Anyone that does not reach his/her 5″” birthday before July 31, 2008 will be too young.

REGISTRATION FEES FOR LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL ARE:
Clinic: (5 & 6 YEARS OLD) $65.00
Minors: (7-9 YEARS OLD) $125.00
Majors (10-12 YEARS OLD) $125.00
13-15 Year Old Division $200.00

Inquire about Girl’s Softball FEES at the registration

SUPPORT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO COACH & UMPIRE (Inquire at Registration)

OPENING DAY PARADE -APRIL 18th -10:00am

February
9th Monday 7 pm – 9 pm
16th Monday 7 pm – 9 pm
23rd Monday 7 pm – 9 pm

March
7th Saturday 10am – 12pm
9th Monday 7 pm – 9 pm

Already? It can’t be. Gerritsen Beach Little League registration will begin this Monday February 9th, at the Cort Club from 7pm to 9pm. Here are the registration dates, which have already been added to the calendar:

February
9th Monday 7 pm – 9 pm
16th Monday 7 pm – 9 pm
23rd Monday 7 pm – 9 pm

March
7th Saturday 10am – 12pm
9th Monday 7 pm – 9 pm

Knights of Columbus Oktoberfest Family Day

Photo Gallery

From the Tim “Tub” Girardot Pagans/Women’s Charity Softball Game