There may still be a bit of a chill in the air, but spring has arrived, as evidenced by Livingston’s baseball and softball fields finally being put to good use.
Last week, the Livingston Lancers varsity baseball and softball teams opened their seasons. The varsity baseball team’s next game is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Friday at the Oval, against Caldwell High School. Varsity softball will play at the same time in Caldwell on Friday. The baseball team has also once again partnered with the Livingston Police Department for its annual Blue/Green Shield program; this season the department supplied the team with new jerseys, which include an LPD patch on the sleeve.
Of course, the rest of spring sports are in full swing, as well, including track, tennis, volleyball, lacrosse, and golf seasons. The Tribune plans to follow them all this spring, and we hope you’ll join us.
Also beginning this Saturday, April 15, is Little League, with the Opening Day parade and ceremony occurring at 11 a.m. at the fields off Congressional Parkway. Little League is a great encapsulation of our community, from our budding athletes getting their first swings in without using a tee, to the parents who coach them, to the fans in the stands cheering them on and the local sponsors that help cover the costs of the games, everyone in town has a role to play in bringing America’s pastime to our fields. And as other towns struggle to put together enough participants to form a league, let’s not take ours for granted. We’re lucky to have our own Little League, as well as any number of recreational and athletic clubs, and they deserve our enthusiastic support (and if any other sports organizations are planning opening ceremonies, let us know!).
From professional players at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field to ball games on the Oval, baseball is a reminder of warm weather ahead, and a reason to get outside and get together. So to all our Little Leaguers taking the field this weekend, and our spring athletes in general, good luck. We encourage everyone, not just friends and relatives, to come out and support the teams. What better way to welcome spring than enjoying a game on a warm Saturday afternoon (with temperatures expected to approach 80 degrees)? Take a picnic and cheer on your neighbors!
