Play Ball! The Saugus Little League is gearing up for its 75th season; Opening Day is set for next Saturday

By Mark E. Vogler

Here’s a local trivia question for Saugus residents: What do the Kowloon Restaurant and the Saugus Little League have in common?

Answer: They are both celebrating their Diamond Anniversary this year. The Wong family has been operating its popular Route 1 restaurant for 75 years, while the Saugus Little League is gearing up for its 75th season of baseball.

Kowloon and the Saugus Little League will share the spotlight together next Saturday (April 11) at the league’s Opening Day Ceremonies. Longtime state Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus) has been invited to throw out the ceremonial first pitch and is also expected to be in the annual Little League Parade.

League officials are inviting anyone who played Little League baseball during the first season in 1951 to come down to Grabowski Field off of Hurd Avenue for the Opening Day Ceremonies or to be a part of the parade, which gets underway at 8:30 a.m. on April 11. A rain date has been set for April 18. Selectmen approved the parade permit at their meeting last week.

This year’s Opening Day ceremonies include a special guest who’s well known to Boston Sports fans – Boston Bruins National Anthem singer Todd Angilly. He will kick off the ceremonies at about 10 a.m. with a rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The ceremonies will follow after the parade participants arrive on Hurd Avenue.

League officials and volunteers did extensive work this week, getting Grabowski Field in shape. They worked the infield and had fresh grass ready to install. A new sign was installed on the fence behind home plate, which recognized the Little League’s 75th year and it being established in 1951. Corey Berkowitch, owner of Sachem Signworks Inc., made and donated the sign to the league.

Eugene Decareau, 96, who is considered the oldest living Saugus Little League coach, is expected to ride in the parade with his longtime wife, Arlene. “I enjoyed every minute of it,” Decareau said of his Little League coaching days.

“The kids were wonderful to work with. And I would highly recommend anyone who can help the kids to get involved as a Little League coach and teach them good sportsmanship,” he said. “I wish I could get out there to help them again. But I would be too hard on them. I was a task master. I didn’t fool around or joke with the kids back when I was coaching. As far as I was concerned, the kids were there to learn.”

Decareau offered some advice to the adults who decide to volunteer their time as coaches. “Just remember, you are there to teach the kids. And that’s all you have to worry about,” Decareau said. “You should try to win. But that’s not as important as teaching the kids. Your number one priority is to teach them properly. I wish them all the best of luck and to keep smiling and keep teaching the kids the fundamentals of baseball and good sportsmanship.”

Decareau said he might ride in the parade if it’s a nice day. If he does, he will have his choice of riding in a Saugus police cruiser, a Saugus fire truck or a show car – a convertible if it’s a nice day, according to league officials.

Current plans call for boys and girls players, coaches and other parade participants to assemble at the Belmonte STEAM Academy at about 8 a.m. on April 11. The parade will leave the Belmonte parking lot at 8:30 and exit toward Adams Avenue, turning left onto Adams Avenue, right onto Central Street and a left onto Hurd Avenue, ending at the Veterans Early Learning Center for the Opening Day Ceremonies. Every boy and girl who plays at every level of baseball in Saugus, from T-Ball to High School Baseball or Softball, has been invited to march in the parade.

The parade will be special for the players in the Saugus Babe Ruth League (13-15 years old), as Babe Ruth League baseball is back after 10 years. The boys baseball and girls softball players from Saugus High School are expected to march in the parade.

League officials are doing all they can to make this year’s Opening Day a community-wide event. They are hoping to beef up the parade with representatives from the senior citizens and veterans communities. Guy Moley has already agreed to participate with some cars from his charity car shows. The Saugus Police and Fire Departments will be involved. There will be a DJ and a food truck at Grabowski Field. So, with good weather, it could be a nice family and community event that appeals to Saugonians of all ages.