For some, a Robin tugging a worm from the soggy earth is the first sign that spring is here, but on the Broadneck Peninsula,
spring doesn’t make its debut until Bob LaRussa, president of the Broadneck Baseball & Softball Club (BBSC), yells: “Play ball!” Every legal, quasi-legal and blatantly illegal parking spot was filled at Broadneck High School April 18 as hundreds of kids of all sizes swarmed onto the ballfield adjacent to the school’s track oval and lined up by team. On the track oval, Louie, the Bowie Baysox mascot, was fluffing his fur while the stands filled up. A crew from the Naval Academy polished their navy blue Formula One car, gunning the engine occasionally for NASCAR fans. Face-painters were turning kids into tigers and clowns. All this was part of the Opening Day Gala Weekend. The night before, Arnold Park buzzed with hundreds of kids participating in pitch, hit and run competitions organized by age. BBSC officials and over 1,000 spectators proudly watched as the youngsters paraded around the oval, wearing a rainbow of colorful jerseys and caps, waving their team banners and flags. A group from Art Space in West Annapolis sang a patriotic medley as the crowd saluted the stars and stripes. LaRussa urged the players to applaud their parents and all the volunteers – coaches, parents, concession stand workers – for making the Broadneck area recreation league a success. “During this economic recession, we’re trying to take the stress out of baseball while serving the community,” he said.
He said the BBSC offered “a team for every kid – select, travel and, the heart of the program, the recreation teams.” LaRussa said the club had “changed the rules” so that every kid gets playing time. “Baseball’s got to be about fun.”