Rye Celebrates 54th Annual Little League Parade

Hundreds of people gathered in Rye this weekend to celebrate the 54th Annual Rye Little League Parade.

“Every kid should be able to have a day like this,” said Rye Little League President Myles Lavelle.

The annual event serves as a kick-off to the city’s Little League season. Twenty-four Rye Little League and 23 softball teams marched in the parade, which began at 11:30 a.m. Saturday when attendees assembled at the Rye Train Station Plaza. By noon, participants started marching along Purchase Street and headed to Milton Road, crossing Playland Parkway before making their way to Disbrow Park’s Grainger Field.

Other marchers included members of the Rye City Council and Board of Education, Rye Teacher’s Association, Rye High School Drum Corps and the fire and police departments. The Port Chester, Rye, and Rye Brook Emergency Medical Services, Rye Recreation, and sponsors of many of the teams also participated in the parade.

Several families attended, including Cardinals little league player Jack Brodwolf and his father and coach, Steve. The Brodwolfs moved to Rye from Chicago last fall, making Saturday the father and son’s first Rye Little League experience.

"We love the idea of the parade," they said. "It's special."

“It’s fun because they announce the season at the end,” Jack added.

Jack’s teammate Darius Vahabzadeh took part in the festivities for the third consecutive year.

"It's nice for the community and for an opening day game," he said.

Athletics player, 11-year-old Colin Wexler, had the whole family on hand for the event, including his sister Caitlin, 7, who will join the Rye Girls Softball league next year when she is old enough to be a part of one of the teams.

“We came to support our son Colin in the parade,” mother Sue Wexler, 48, said. “It’s a really great community event.”

The parade culminated in the Opening Day Ceremony at Grainger Field, with loud cheers coming from teams and fans who sat in the bleachers.

At the ceremony, Lavelle thanked and acknowledged various Rye officials and Rye Little League presidents. He also acknowledged Nancy Pryor, who is stepping down as head of the Rye Girls Softball League after 14 seasons.

This year’s event also included a special dedication ceremony for Founder’s Field, which is named in honor of the founders of the Rye Little League. The first official Rye Little League game was held in May of 1959 at Rye High School, just two months after the league was established. Though today the league includes more than 800 players, it began with six teams—the Rockets, Riots, Bullets, Hawks, Crew Cuts, and Chiefs. On Saturday, one of the original Pub Riots, Pat Amendola, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

“They began with just sweat, determination, strong backs and shovels to build the League’s first field,” Lavelle said. “The founders and volunteers sold raffle tickets to buy bats, balls and uniforms. Local businesses such as Wonder Bread and Rye Ford sponsored the initial six league teams.”

“These men never expected recognition and they did it purely for the love of baseball and the Rye community,” Lavelle said. “They would, however, be very proud and humbled at today’s events.”