By Margo Sullivan
Staff writer
April 20, 2008 05:55 am DERRY — Cameron Riley dropped down behind home plate and caught the first pitch of the 2008 Little League season. It was a bullet, and it landed in his glove with a whack. All around O'Hara Field, grown men and women watched that toss and the catch. Some wept and hugged their children. Others shook while trying to hold back tears. Yesterday's Opening Day parade and ceremony in Derry was the first Little League kickoff in the area. And it was bittersweet, as the crowd saluted 11-year-old Cameron, who is fighting a battle with cancer, and also honored the memory of a beloved Little League coach, Joe Balis. The Derry Little League went through a rough off-season, said Kyle Lippert, the Derry Little League president. Balis unexpectedly died March 20. His son Jonathan fired off the ceremonial toss to Cameron. The teams stood with their caps off for a moment of silence to honor Balis. He had expected to be around for the season coaching the Derry Little League White Sox team, Lippert said. Then Cameron stood up and recounted his story about finding a bump on his neck one weekend. The bump kept growing and his family took him to Children's Hospital in Boston where doctors told him he had cancer. Cameron donated new catcher's equipment to the Derry Little League because he wanted to give something back to the people who stood by him. "The words 'thank you' just don't seem to cover my feelings," he said, then told the teams to "Play ball." Parents like Missy Rowell of Derry wiped tears away while listening. "I can't even imagine something like that happening to one of my children," she said. The ceremony at O'Hara Field followed the parade. On a perfect sunny morning, youngsters, eager to start the new season, suited up and gathered on the lawn at MacGregor Park. Little girls gripped the American flag in one fist and held the Derry Little League banner with their other hand, leading the teams on a march down East Broadway. Some teams had black uniforms, and others wore boldly colored red, blue, gold, green and orange colors. Riley Cahill, 11, who plays first base and centerfield for the Derry News, said he was excited to get underway. Riley read the Little League pledge during the opening ceremony, reminding everyone about courage, loyalty and doing your best, win or lose.
Atkinson%May 10%Atkinson Youth Baseball and Softball Opening Day&Pope Field%Time TBA Kingston%April 26%Jamboree%Parade starts at Route 111 and Little River Road (Route 125)%10:30 a.m. Londonderry%April 26% Londonderry Athletic and Field Association Opening Day%Londonderry High%7:45 a.m. Newton%May 3%Newton Baseball & Softball Association%Greenie Park%9 a.m. Pelham%May 3%Little League Opening Day% Muldoon Field%9 a.m. Salem%April 27%Salem Youth Baseball%Salem High%Noon Windham%May 17%Fest-a-Ball%Griffin Park% Time TBA
Hampstead does not have an official Opening Day. Some teams have already started playing. Plaistow's games start the first week of June. No further information was available.
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Photos
Cam Riley, 11, who is recovering from cancer, was on hand at the Opening Day ceremonies for the Derry Little League on Saturday morning. He is a catcher, and caught the first pitch thrown by Jonathan Balis. Jonathan's dad, Joseph Balis, who had been a Little League team coach, died suddenly in March. Staff photo
The Derry Little League's Opening Day was held on Saturday morning. Brendan Fitzgerald, 8, gets a workout being chased around the field by his sister Kyleigh Fitzgerald, 6, after the ceremonies. Staff photo
The Derry Little League's Opening Day was held on Saturday morning. From left, holding up the stadium's walls, are Jason Flood, 9, of the Pirates, and Josh Lawrence, 14, playing for the Braves. Staff photo