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.”
Karina Powers teaches traditional dances from Mexico in Millbrook.
Powers received a master’s degree in Mexican folklore dance from Escuela de la Danza in Baja California, Mexico. Since moving to the United States, she has built a career in performance and teaching. She has not only served as a dance director and performed as a professional vernacular music singer in California, but she has also worked towards her Doctorate, which she will receive in October.
As the founder of her company, Powers works tirelessly to make sure her dancers have everything they need, including costumes, proper flooring, music and a space to practice. Her husband built wooden panels, called tarimas, for students to dance on with their folklórico shoes. Millbrook Mayor Peter F. Doro allows Powers and her group to practice in Millbrook Hall, where she brings the tarimas to every practice along with costumes and proper footwear.
Powers dreams of owning her own studio where she can practice with her group, offer more classes, store costumes and create a space for her dancers to do their hair and makeup before performances. She said she hopes people learn about her classes so her company can grow and she can teach dances from a wider range of Mexican states while having greater access to traditional dress.
As a single mother and professor, Powers’ mother, Carmen Méndez, put her children in dance classes and signed them up for track and field, always keeping them goal- and career-oriented. She helped Powers with her company by creating all of the costumes her dancers wear in their performances. After her mother’s death in 2021, Powers said she has dedicated herself to carrying forward the passion, work ethic and love of dance her mother instilled in her.
“I miss her terribly, and I’m here because of her,” Powers said. “That’s why I want to do this, because of her. She gave me a lot, with the costumes, with her support. I do it for my mom.”
Karina Powers and her students practice in Millbrook Hall.Lucia Iandolo
Dancers in Powers’ group are dedicated to learning the art of dance from different states in Mexico on Tuesday and Friday nights at Millbrook Hall. They travel from many different places in New York to participate, with some dancers traveling more than an hour to make it to rehearsal each week.
“It’s a lot of work, but they learn it. I believe they love it, and it’s a way to come together, to do something good, to do something healthy, and to have people around you who appreciate this kind of art,“ Powers said.
Powers has studied with professor Eloy Jiménez Figueroa since childhood and said his mentorship inspired her to become the teacher she is today. She added that while she may not be the best teacher, she learned from the best.
While living in California, Powers taught elementary, high school and college students, as well as adults. She was recruited to teach traditional Mexican folkloric dance because of the region’s large Mexican community. Today, she encourages people of all backgrounds to explore the rich traditions of Mexican dance.
“This type of dance is not only for people from Mexico,” Powers said. “This is an art and the arts unite nations.”
Powers hopes to continue sharing that art in Millbrook and one day teach in the Millbrook Central School District. Powers and her group will perform at the Millbrook Library on Nov. 21, presenting traditional Mexican dances and inviting audience members to participate.
As a professor, dancer and singer, Powers stays grounded by believing in something greater than herself. She says that praying and putting herself in the hands of God has helped anchor her. She hopes to teach and dance for as long as her body allows.
“My mom, for me, is an angel. I put myself in her hands, and I have faith,” Powers said. “I have faith that God, or something good, is going to be there for the group and for myself.”
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