OLL Parade Marshall and former President John Loftus and OLL Director Dick Franz welcome Father Thomas Valenti to Hyde Park with a briefing before Opening Ceremonies.
Owego Elks Lodge 1039 is a long time supporter of OLL. For 48 years they’ve donated a new American Flag to fly 24/7. Pictured are Secretary Vern Singleton, Exalted Ruler Zach Newswanger, Lecturing Knight Suzanne Newswanger, Elroy the Elk and Inner Guard and former OLL President Steve Gregory.
Recipient of the prestigious Dick Horton Memorial Award for Service to the Youth of OLL is third year Girls Softball President David York thanking the league for the recognition. OLL President Ken Winters surprised Dave with the 27th award.
OLL second grade students sing “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” led by Owego Elementary School second grade teacher Suzanne Newswanger.
OLL President Ken Winters presents the new American Flag donated by the Elks to the VFW Post 1371 Honor Guard’s Dean Morgan and Ralph Tapia.
OLL fourth graders sing the National Anthem as twelve-year old players wait on deck to recite the Little League Pledge.
Owego Little League’s (OLL) highest award to a volunteer is the Dick Horton Memorial Plaque that honors the late long time Groundskeeper Dick Horton. Inscription on the plaque reads: “I Do It For The Kids” and “In Memory of Dick Horton who loved spending his days at the ball park. Owego Little League 2003.”
The 28th recipient of the Dick Horton Memorial Award is Dave York of Apalachin, the 50-year-old VP of Girls Softball. He has two daughters 18-year-old Sammy and 12-year-old Erica. She plays in Owego on the Majors 2 Susquehanna Printers team that he coaches along with Manager Crystal Shugars.
Dave started coaching in OLL four years ago and became VP Softball in March 2013 when former VP Softball Mark Warfle retired.
Teener Girls Softball for girls 13-17 years old and 12-year-old girls softball players was started last year with one team and this year has grown to two teams.
Objective of the 28th season of Girls Softball is to build the talent pool for the Owego Apalachin School District to choose from. Goal is to feed the school with talented players while still making it an enjoyable experience for the girls that decide to play softball in OLL.
“The reason that I work so hard at the ball park were standing right with me on the field at the Opening Day Ceremonies – the Ball Players,” Dave said.
Dave says, “I am old school. If I see something that I can fix, I do it! He remembers former U.S. President John F. Kennedy in his Inaugural Address on Friday, Jan. 20, 1961, saying, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
Dave is the lead terminal operator at Buckeye Terminals, a division of Buckeye Partners, Vestal terminal, Shippers Road, Vestal. He’s responsible for maintenance inventory, quality and safe receipt by pipeline and delivery by truck of petroleum products daily.
In thanking the league for this award, Dave said, “Nothing happens without many volunteers. I am just one of many that make this league successful year after year.”
Since 2003, league presidents have presented Dick Horton Memorial Awards to Dick Franz, Ken Winters, the Farabaugh family of Mark, Cindy and two sons Ethan and Adam, Greg Poffebarger and Rich Ives, Steve and Diane Gregory, and Jim Medovich, Joe Fuller and Lori Espe, Rose Winters and Mike Slevetskas, Steve Lounsberry, Suzanne Peacock and Dean Smith, Debi Schmidt and Ed Walters, Dan Martin and Jim Raftis, Karen and Bob Johnson and Mike Stewart, Karen Vinti, Brandy May Beach-Lunn and Dave York.
Opening Day Wrapup
Parade Marshall John Loftus thanks all who marched in the traditional parade. Tip of the baseball cap to the motorists who waited at intersections for the parade to pass by. The parade route North to George, and George to Hyde Park is one mile. Four-year old Tee Ballers huffed and puffed past the railroad Underpass.
Click here to view photos from the parade.
Even though he was a Chaplain to many sports teams at Columbia University and Ithaca College, Father Thomas Valenti was eager and delighted to do his first Little League Invocation after exchanging high-fives with the players lined up on Temple Street.
Father enjoyed a cup of coffee and orientation by Directors Dick Franz and John Loftus at Nick Raftis Memorial Field. Father Valenti is Pastoral Administrator at St. Patrick’s and three Blessed Trinity parishes.
Player Agent and Webmaster Eric and Kelly Hawkins say they would like to create a small information board for each field giving the history of the person(s) the field is named after, when it was named in their honor, and a picture. The Hawkins think it is important for players and parents to know the rich history of OLL, as well as out-
Father Thomas Valenti gives Invocation at OLL’s 64th Opening Day. A former Little League player himself, Father is Pastoral Administrator of St. Patrick’s and Blessed Trinity Parishes. Previously he was Chaplain to the Sports Teams and students at Columbia University and Ithaca College.
of-towners who come to play on the five baseball fields and adjacent Teener field – as well as the other building and spaces named for others.
Well done to OES second grade teacher Suzanna Newswanger for leading second graders in singing “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” and fourth graders singing the “National Anthem”. Twelve-year-olds recited The Little League Pledge.
Owego Elks Lodge donated the Flag Pole on Independence Day 1968 and has gifted a new American flag ever since. New Exalted Ruler Zach Newswanger presented the flag to OLL President Ken Winters. Honor Guard of Post 1371 VFW Officers Dean Morgan and Ralph Tapia raised Old Glory and the POW/MIA flags to fly 24/7.
Picture Day is Saturday, May 9. Picture Chairman Phil Wiles reminds players and teams to be on time. Raffle tickets will be distributed, and Chairman Denis McCann says the drawing is May 30. Weeknight games start at 6 p.m. and Saturday games at 10:30 a.m.
It’s very important to check the OLL website at www.eteamz.com/owego. Webmaster Eric Hawkins will update game status on rainy afternoons.
New American and POW/MIA flags raised at Elks Flag Pole dedicated in 1968 to fly 24/7 at Hyde Park – home of Owego Little League Baseball, Tee Ball, Girls Softball and Tri County Teener League Baseball.
