Northeast Seattle Little League Opening Day Baseball Games And Festivities On Saturday

Don't miss the Northeast Seattle Little League's (NESLL) Opening Day baseball and softball celebration at the Laurelhurst Playfields on Saturday.

This is the fourth year the exciting day has taken place in the neighborhood. It's a great day long event filled with lots of festivities. Eight games total are played on two fields, complete with announcers, concession stand, and special presentations between each game.

Games start at 9:15am with the infamous Opening Pitch ceremonies featuring players from the University of Washington Men’s baseball and Women Softball teams, who come to every game during the day to throw out first pitches and meet the kids, as well as members from the Color Guards with the local Boys Scouts.

Games will continue throughout the day at 12pm, 2:30pm, and 5pm, along with "bands playing the Star Spangled banner, food, and most of all, the finest little league baseball in the city," Barry, with NESL told us.

NESL will have a special program available with lineups of every team, a "thanks" to their more than 60 sponsors, along with some of their favorite baseball quotes. For every game, they will announce lineups, with the players coming out on the field, lining up before their parents and fans, and saying the Little League pledge, followed by the National Anthem.

Denny, from NESL, told us that it " is a BIG deal, especially for the 9 and 10 year old players who have not participated in Opening Day before."

Also on the schedule is a special ceremony at 11:30an honoring state qualifying and champion softball and baseball teams from the 2010 season.

NESL will also be honoring the over 60 sponsors who support the League, may of whom live in the neighborhood. Last year, several representatives from neighborhood businesses were on hand to throw out the first pitch of each game, including Beverly Schaefer, owner of Katterman's Pharmacy who has sponsored NESLL teams for over 40 years and Kosta Varlamos of Varlamos Pizza.

"Our long tradition of highly entertaining announcers, food vendors, and over 200 of our uniformed little leaguers are guaranteed to keep fans happy throughout," Barry told us.

You can follow league activity on their Twitter page,  on the league website, and on their Facebook page.

(photo above from Opening Day last year courtesy of NESL)