Riverhead Little League celebrated its 70th anniversary opening day yesterday at Stotzky Park, where teams, families, friends and supporters gathered to usher in the new season.
The 70th anniversary opening day ceremonies also gave the community a chance to celebrate Riverhead Little League’s two District 36 championships last season. Riverhead Little League captured the Major League Championship and the 8-10 Year Old Championship in 2021.
Members of the championship teams threw out the ceremonial first pitches.
Riverhead Little League board member and baseball player agent Roberta MacGray, who is retiring from the board, was honored at the ceremony with flowers as well as a ceremonial first pitch.
The league honored board member and softball player agent Leslie Kwasna for her work taking photos and posting them to the league’s social media. League president Jeremy Savio presented Kwasna with a plaque. Savio also presented Mark Gajowski with a plaque to honor him for his dedication and support of the league’s mission.
Savio said opening day was extra special this year because it was the first time the entire league was able to get together for an opening day ceremony since 2019. Opening day was canceled in 2020 and scaled back last year due to COVID restrictions.
“That was one of the things I really loved about the day,” Savio said. “The whole league was back together. Celebrating the 70th anniversary, having former players and former league president Ron Schmitt there, and celebrating two district championships — you can’t get much better than that,” Savio said.
RiverheadLOCAL photos by Tanya Zaleski
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