B4 Belvoir Eagle April 21, 2016
www.belvoireagleonline.com
Photos by Rick Musselman
Player-representatives of every team in the Fort Belvoir Little League baseball program gather on the pitcher’s mound to recite the Player’s Oath of Ethics during the opening day ceremony of the 2016 Little League season, Saturday at the 21st Street Baseball Complex.
LITTLE LEAGUE From Page B1
Guillory, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Belvoir; Berry Patrick, DFMWR director; Sally Haskell, Child, Youth and School Services director; and Jerry Arrington, CYSS sports and fitness director. Arrington thanked the players for coming out for the teams this year and stressed the importance of the many volunteers who donate their time each season. “In order to get to this point, it takes a lot of volunteers and I want to personally thank these coaches for everything they do for the Fort Belvoir community. They truly lift spirits and they touch kids’ lives,” Arrington said. “But, we have one volunteer who’s been here for 50 years now. He started out in 1966 as a Soldier and then began the baseball program in 1973. Bill Behring does a tremendous job with our program and we’re blessed to have him continuing his great service. We all know him as Coach Bill.” Arrington invited Behring to join him on the mound to say a few words. Behring recognized the players for their commitment to the sport and thanked DFMWR and CYSS for their support, extending special commendation to Patrick; Haskell; Arrington; Julie Libert, CYSS youth sports assistant director; Rashawd Pope, CYSS youth sports assistant director; and Aricka Vaughan and Alex Taylor, sports and fitness associates. Behring also recognized Virginia District 9 umpire, 70-year Little League veteran, Tony Musco, who has
been invited to throw out the first pitch at the Little League World Series opener in August in Williamsport, Pa. Musco also called the Belvoir Major Division season opener, Saturday. Behring then invited Guillory onto the field where he visited each team to throw the ceremonial first pitch of the season to a player-representative of each organization. Smiles of excitement spread out on the players’ faces as the garrison CSM stopped by every group of athletes, taking some time to shake hands and wish them a good season. To culminate the opening day festivities, a player from each team was selected by his coach to join his fellow athletes on the pitcher’s mound to participate in a recitation of the Little League Player’s Oath of Ethics. Belvoir Braves player, Jacob Murphy, 12, served as color guard during the National Anthem. The first regular-season matchups got under way after the pledge of sportsmanship. The Fort Belvoir Little League is comprised of military-dependent boys and girls ages 4-16 and is divided into six age-specific divisions — tee-ball (ages 4-6), machine pitch (ages 7-8), Minors and Majors (ages 9-12) and Juniors and Seniors (ages 13-16). Regular season games are played at the 21st Street Complex every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 6:15 p.m. and on Saturdays at 10 a.m. For more information about the Fort Belvoir Little League, including game schedules and field locations, email Behring at coachbill2@verizon.net.
Fort Belvoir Little League Commissioner Bill Behring welcomes players, coaches and community members to the opening day ceremony of the 2016 Little League season, Saturday at the 21st Street Baseball Complex.