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HAWTHORNE, N.Y. Hundreds of players, parents and coaches gathered Saturday outside Hawthorne Elementary School for the Sherman Park Little League parade that kicked off the 2012 season.
The crowd started its march down Memorial Drive and ended at Volunteer Field. Police escorts and fire trucks guided the children and parents along the streets as onlookers gathered and greeted their friends and neighbors on the hot, sunny morning.
Jose Llamas sat on a bench under a shady tree outside the school as he waited for the parade to begin. His son, Andrew, marched in the parade for the second straight year, and Llamas was happy to take part in the festivities.
This is great. Everybodys involved. The families, the whole community gets involved, which is one of the nicest things the community has, Llamas said. Sherman Park does a really good job with this.
Llamas son was in AA last year, but this season he plays at the AAA level for the Cubs. The proud father said the community is what made him decide to get his son involved in little league.
(I did it) because of the parents and the kids, obviously, Llamas said. Just because everybodys involved, it makes you want to be a part of it.
As the parade turned right off of Memorial Drive onto Chelsea Street, Ann Calandrucci stopped to say hello to a friend. Her 10-year-old son is in the Boys Minor League this season, but Calandrucci has participated in the parade since she moved to the area in 2007.
Its just such a great day. Everybody comes out in the community, Calandrucci said. Its just a nice way to see everyone gathered together. The kids are so excited. They love all this.
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