Hundreds March in McLean Little League Parade to Open Season

Hundreds of kids, moms, dads and coaches strolled down Westmoreland Street shortly after 8 am Saturday in McLean's annual spring rite --- the McLean Little League  Parade.

The paraders in McLean's largest parade stretched for more than a half a mile down Westmoreland with fathers sipping coffee, moms holding small hands and youngsters holding up banners for the hometown businesses that are sponsoring them.

"My daughter is very excited about softball and the parade is just a wonderful way to kick off the season and get the kids excited about the camaraderie and sportsmanship that are all a apart of the game," said Jim Saxenian watching for daughter Ashley, 10.

"It's  very 1950's cute," said Jill Tiffany holding future player Elias, now 14 months. "It makes me excited for Little League for my kids."

The 57th annual parade started at McLean High School and ended about 45 minutes later at the McLean Little League Field on Westmoreland Street at Poole Lane.

This six-acre field of dreams is totally maintained by volunteers. McLean Little League purchased it in 1955 for $6,500, said Paul Shiffman, vice president of Chain Bridge Bank and a Little League supporter since 1967.

From now until the end of June, an estimated 1,100 kids ranging in age from 5 – 12 years of age, and their parents will spend afternoons playing and learning lessons of life on the League’s four diamonds.

McLean Little League is one of the few patches of common ground where McLean residents from the uber-rich and powerful eastside  and the middle class west and southside meet.

This symbol of  community baseball involves up to 800 families with some of McLean’s oldest businesses, such as Enrico’s Cleaners, McLean Family Restaurant, McLean Hardware, Plants and Flowers sponsoring teams.

"This is the heart and the center" of McLean, Shiffman said. "People can come here safely. On a spring day nothing is more special than being here."

Luke Levasseur: "It's the start of my son's last season. He met his best friends here. It's a great community of adults. You see a lot of people you would never know in your professional and social life."

During the ceremonies, Susie French and Pat McDonough were honored as Volunteers of the Year. The family of Wayne Whitlow was honored. Whitlow was the last remaining original sponsor of a team. He died last month. The family continues its team sponsorship.

TV star, former senator, former presidential candidate and McLean resident Fred Thompson threw out the first ball. Dranesville Supervisor John Foust, Dranesville School board member Jane Strauss and state Del. Barbara Comstock, (R-34) attended. But the day belonged to the kids and the parents.

Carol Beadie, visiting from St. Paul, came to see her grandchildren play. "It's a festival. It's wonderful," she gushed."This is a happening."

Granddaughter Sabrina, 6, plays tee ball. Older granddaughter Carmen, 11, prefers soccer.

Carrie Moore with her husband and three children: "It's great fun. The kids learn new skills and the parents and the community get the chance to spend Saturday together playing the American pastime."

Her daughter Amanda who has played for three years: "It's fun to get together with my team and have fun."

Mike Mendler, McLean Little League president: "It's a true sense of where you get a small town feeling. . . It's timeless passing from generation to generation."