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August 11, 2012 Bangor welcomes new crop of World Series teams Queen City celebrates the 10th anniversary of the first World Series at Mansfield Stadium By Chris DeBeck Communications Staff
A spectacular fireworks display capped off the 2012 Senior League World Series opening ceremony Saturday night at Mansfield Stadium. Misty conditions failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the event, which formally kicked off the 11th Senior League World Series to be contested in Bangor. “When you see the teams playing this week, you’re seeing the best of the best,” noted Dennis Lewin, chairman of the board of directors for Little League International, in brief remarks during the ceremony. Lewin, a summer resident of East Orland, noted that there are 3,000 leagues and 5,000 teams participating in just the Senior League (ages 13-16) division this year. He also threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the ceremony, firing a strike to Mike Ward, catcher for Maine District 3 champion Hampden-Newburgh L.L., just before the start of the fireworks. The first Little League graduate to serve as chairman of Little League’s board, Lewin also noted that more than 1 million volunteers are essential to the program’s success. One of those volunteers is Maine District 3 Administrator Bob Stevenson, who has served in that capacity for 33 years and has served Little League Baseball for 55 years in various capacities, including coaching and umpiring. “That really deserves a round of applause,” Lewin said, prompting clapping from those in attendance. A special proclamation from the Bangor City Council was also presented at the opening ceremony, with Councilor Jamie Gallant making the presentation. “I first walked on this impressive field in 1992,” noted Gallant. “It was a magnificent feeling. I’m delighted to see that 20 years later that Mansfield Stadium is still creating magnificent moments.” Tournament Director Michael Brooker accepted the proclamation from Gallant. Just before the teams marched onto the field, he noted that players from different teams were mingling. “It’s great to compete, but it’s better to make lifelong friends,” Brooker said. He added that while only one team will be crowned as champion at the end of the week, each team still deserved recognition for reaching this stage. “Everyone came here as a champion, and are going to go home as a champion,” Brooker added later. The ceremony also featured the recognition of District 3’s champion teams, clowns and a bagpipe band from the Anah Temple Shrine. The national anthems of all five countries represented in the tournament (Italy, Canada, New Zealand, Guatemala and the United States) were also played. Two teams – Bayside Westhaven Little League of Auckland, New Zealand and Juvenil de Guatemala of Guatemala City, Guatemala – were still traveling to Bangor and did not get a chance to take part in the ceremony. |
