Dodging raindrops as season ends for Little League play

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.”