THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, April 12, 2024 Page 13 It’s almost time to “Play Ball!” Former little league coach Eugene Decareau, 95, and his wife will serve as Grand Marshals in Opening Day parade S augus Little League Baseball and Saugus Softball Little League are gearing up for a historic Opening Day next Saturday, April 20. For the fi rst time in recent memory, the two leagues will be joining in a parade, which will begin at 9 a.m. from a staging area at the old Oaklandvale Elementary School at 266 Main St. The parade route, which is new from the one used in recent years, will proceed west down Main Street to the newly renovated Elks Field adjacent to the Saugus-Everett Elks Lodge #642 at 413 Main St. The oldest living former Saugus Little League Coach, 95-yearold Gene Decareau, and his wife, Arlene, will be leading the procession of cars and walkers as this year’s Grand Marshals. Saugus Little League President John Benoit – the father of four Little Leaguers, said he’s expecting a big crowd for next week’s event. He credits the success of the league to the diversity of the organization, which ranges in age from four to 12 years old. “It’s enabled us to start rebuilding the fi elds,” he said. The league features four divisions this season, with a split Minor Division (AA and AAA). T-Ball: Little League Baseball Ages 4-6. Coach Pitch: Little League Baseball Ages 6 -7. Minor: Little League Baseball Ages 7-10. Majors: Little League Baseball Ages 10-12. Three generations of the Cole Family are involved in the league. Bucky Cole will sing the National Anthem. He will be joined by his son, Craig, who coaches two boys. Work is continuing at Elks Field, which has undergone considerable work in recent weeks, including a new infi eld, a fresh coat of paint around the park, some removal and pruning of trees and other work to get the fi eld looking good and in playing shape for the 2024 season. There won’t be a food truck this year, as the Elks have donated 1,000 hot dogs, according to Craig Smith of the Saugus Little League. Selectmen last month approved the parade route, contingent upon the Police and Fire Departments approving a safety and traffic plan for the day. In addition to the Opening Saugus arm’s race: 26 strikeouts signal strong start to season By Dom Nicastro H all. Junior pitcher Cam Soroko claims 15 of those strikeouts – 11 in an opening-day, complete-game, 4-0 shutout over Shawsheen and four more in two innings of closer work in a 6-3 win over Northeast Metro Tech. Sophomore Jordan Rodriguez started and got six punchouts in three innings of work against Northeast, and juere’s the short story: The Saugus High School Sachems baseball team has started 2-0 and racked up 26 strikeouts between three pitchers out of a possible 42 outs. Not bad. Really, not bad at nior Cam Bernard added fi ve strikeouts in two innings in that game. That’s a 15-strikeout performance across the three right-handers who left only six outs to be had by their teammates. Strong start on the hill for the Sachems? You bet. Soroko brings power, accuracy and a slider out-pitch – clocking in the high 80s – while Bernard and Rodriguez have proven to be crafty while pounding the zone and getting ahead of batters. “We had 15 strikeouts against Northeast, and that means six balls actually were put in play which had to be outs,” said Saugus coach Joe 26 STRIKEOUTS| SEE PAGE 17 GRAND MARSHAL: Eugene Decareau, 95, the oldest-living former baseball coach of the Saugus Little League, joins league offi cials at last year’s Opening Day Ceremonies. He will be leading the parade again this year, but with a diff erent route. (Saugus Advocate fi le photo by Mark E. Vogler) Day ceremonies, league officials are planning to have some entertainment, including a DJ, face-painting and a photo booth. League offi cials continue to work on more plans for the day, particularly the parade, which will have Bucky Cole sang the National Anthem last year. (Saugus Advocate fi le photo by Mark E. Vogler) boys and girls marching together for the fi rst time. A rain-out date has been set for Sunday, April 21.
14 Publizr Home