AMENIA — It was the End of the Season Celebration for the Webutuck Little League on Saturday, June 7, and the players were undeterred by a little rain.
The planned games were rained out, but as coaches and parents manned the grill under the pavillion at Beekman Park, an enthusiastic band of Little Leaguers grabbed bats and balls and gloves and headed for the diamond. Some were already in uniform and were ready to ‘play ball.’
It was player-pitch time, sans coaches. A few parents and grandparents wandered out from the pavilion to watch the action. Soggy as it was, the young ball players showed off some highly developed skills as pitches came, and balls flew out of the infield.
Matt Deister, right, and Aaron Howard dish out ice cream on Saturday, June 7, in Beekman Park in Amenia at the End of the Season Celebration.Photo by John Coston
One batter scored after getting in a rundown pickle between second and third, and at his next at-bat he managed a homerun.
One grandmother noted that this was just like the old days, when youngsters, sent out to play, would organize their own sandlot games. Without grown-up coaches at first and third and calling from the dugout, it was a scene reminiscent of The Little Rascals’ movie-shorts a century ago that included baseball skits.
After a few plays, which revealed how much the players had learned over the season — such as how to anticipate what to do if the ball comes to you, or being ready to cover for a sudden gap in the infield — one player yelled out that hamburgers and hotdogs were ready.
That led to a brief pause in play, and a respite that included ice cream in cups dished out by Matt and Jessica Deister, president and secretary of the Webutuck Little League.
A runner gets trapped between second and third, but makes it home. Photo by John Coston
DJ Reilly, a past president who this year was a T-ball coach and an occasional umpire, stood at the back of Beekman Park pavilion next to a counter top of bubble-wrapped trophies.
“This is great,” he said, looking over the gathering of families and children on a rainy Saturday, “we’ve come a long way. And it takes a lot to do something like this.”
In 2023, after extensive effort by volunteer parents, the league became officially affiliated with the Little League Baseball nonprofit organization based in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the United States and the world.
A few games are left before the season ends, and coaches will distribute trophies at game time.
Saturday’s celebration was planned rain or shine.
“We had no choice,” Jessica Deister said. “Tomorrow is the fishing derby.”
Nora Garcia, 6, of Millerton, bottom right, gets a face painting treatment from Maddy Rowe, a Webutuck High School senior. Nora’s sister, Juliana, 8, top right, is decorated by Giana Kall, a Webutuck senior. The program was sponsored by the Webutuck PTA.
Bee Bee the Clown offered everyone attending the Millerton Street Fair balloon figures, jokes and musical sleight-of-hand. “I can make 50 types of balloon animals without thinking and probably around 100 if I concentrate,” the most complex being a rabbit in a top hat made from balloons, Bee Bee said. The clown, who also bills herself as Jackie the Magician, merged her two disciplines of clowning and magic to entertain visitors for the length of the fair.Bee Bee’s commitment to her craft appears beyond her performance, as reflected in her brightly-colored outfit and carefully-applied makeup. “The control exercised over the line work detail” of her eye makeup and the proper choice of footwear — no smaller than the size-16 shoes Bee Bee wore — are two of the aspects of clown dress which Bee Bee noted as being most important to her costume.Photo by Charlie Greenberg
The NorthEast-Millerton Library joined in the fun, hosting a book sale inside and a cookie bake-off on the front lawn.
Live music on the lawn of the Millerton Methodist Church supplied good vibes to those within earshot. The John Stey Band started the morning with classic country, western and bluegrass tunes. The afternoon wrapped up with a few hours of Afro-Cuban jazz from the Berkshire Resilience Brass Band.
Townscape and the North East Community Center joined in participating as non-profit organizations in the Millerton News Street Fair, coinciding with the regular weekly Millerton Farmers’ Market that attracts more than a dozen vendors to sell fresh produce, baked goods and more.
Eloise Gerstle, 2 and a half, posed with her balloon animal and her mother, Aimee Couture, both of Sharon, enjoying the fun of the Millerton News Street Fair on Saturday, June 28.Photo by Leila Hawken
Lisa Cope, Village of Millerton Town Clerk, was there to hand out “Save the Date” cards for next year’s 175th Anniversary of Millerton.
“I know it’s early,” she said. “but it’s coming.”
Amanda Coppola, the Webutuck Elementary School principal, was on hand to discuss after school programs, and mentioned a new pre-K program for three-year-olds that is the first in Dutchess County.
And Century Boulevard was packed with cars. License plates from across the Northeast could be spotted lining the wide street, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and even Pennsylvania.
Reporting and photography from Leila Hawken, Charlie Greenberg, Nathan Miller and John Coston contributed to this article.
Photo by Nathan Miller
Brody Reyes of Millerton, left, and Aaliyah Velie of Millerton, right, run and play with a beach ball in the parking lot of the Millerton Firehouse on Century Boulevard.
The Millerton Fire Company was a popular destination with its hot food — dogs and burgers and homemade french fries. The volunteer firemen ran the concession. Patti Lynch-VandeBogart was also on hand with popcorn and flavored ices.Kelly Roger, treasurer and a fire police captain of the department had pulled together the fire department’s food court.
A touch-a-truck event for children was popular, leading occasionally to a loud blast of a fire truck horn from an excited youngster.
