Youth baseball players in Annandale marked the ceremonial start of their spring season on Saturday (May 2) with practices, visits from Little League alumni — and a first pitch thrown by Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli.
The visit was courtesy of the Nationals’ Team UP program, which supports local youth leagues throughout the D.C. metro area, including the Mason District Little League.
Before throwing out the pitch, Cavalli chatted with and encouraged players as they practiced on the field at Mason District Park. The pitcher also participated in a question-and-answer session.
“I thought it was a great opportunity for my kids to see that hard work does pay off, that dedication is important,” said Carolyn Abdenour Bogues, the league’s vice president and coordinator for the Team UP program. “I thought it was great to see all the jerseys at all the different levels … that the Nationals provided.”
While the spring season has been underway for some time now, the Mason District Little League often waits for warmer weather so players have a more enjoyable experience during “opening day” festivities, said Peter Snitzer, the league president.
One of the most popular events over the years has been an “alumni day,” which was combined with Cavalli’s visit.
When players from Annandale, Justice, Falls Church and private high schools return for a visit, “it shows the little kids and the families that are in the league now that if they stick with it, they’ll make their high school team,” Snitzer said.
A number of those alumni players attended the event, which took place on the league’s Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez Field, renovated with help from the Nationals and dedicated to the former MLB catcher in 2017.
The league’s ongoing relationship with the Nationals through the Team UP program provides players with uniforms, jerseys, and hats, Abdenour Bogues said, ensuring that “cost is not a barrier to baseball.”
“Our league is able to take the money we would have spent on uniforms on field maintenance and equipment that is needed to provide our community with a great experience that helps keep them wanting to play baseball,” Mason District Little League secretary Brian Johnson said.
He was impressed by Cavalli’s visit, telling FFXnow that the 27-year-old pitcher “could not have been a better player to select for this event.”
“He showed patience, interest, and kindness with our young players and stayed to answer questions, help them with warm ups, and even threw out the first pitch,” Johnson said. “I think a lot of our young MDLL players have a new favorite major league baseball player now.”
