5 teams celebrate start of new Little League season in Albion

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Members of the Barre Cubs introduce themselves on Saturday during a celebration to start of another season of the Albion Midget League.

Barre is one of the original teams of the league that started in 1956.

The league this year has five teams: Barre, Carlton, Elba, Rotary-Elks and Sandstone.

Bryson Potter of Sandstone speaks into the mic during the opening day celebration at the Midget League Field behind the Town Hall on Clarendon Road. Sandstone also is an original team of the league from the first season 67 years ago.

This year there are 133 kids in Albion playing on four coach pitch teams, 3 teams for 9 and under, and 4 teams of 12 and under.

There are also another 65 kids between Kendall’s 9u, and Elba’s 2 coach pitch, 9u and 12u teams for 196 kids total on three levels of baseball.

The Rotary-Elks team introduces themselves to the crowd. The team is again coached by Greg Bennett.

The Carlton team this year is led by coach Ryan Woolston. Ben Narburgh was head coach for nearly a decade, including a victory in the championship in 2019. Narburgh is still assisting with this year’s team but is moving out of the area in about three weeks.

Ben Narburgh throws out the ceremonial first pitch. He is among several coaches who have committed many years to their teams.

Scott DeSmit, one of the Sandstone coaches, said he is looking forward to a fun season for the players and their families.

These Barre players, Easton Neri at left and Jacob Knowlton, have fun in a field next to the actual baseball diamond. They were passing time before the opening day ceremony.

The season runs through mid-July with most games on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The championship game is scheduled for July 15.