East Mountain Little Leaguers Play Ball

From the field to the sky, the excitement was in full swing as East Mountain Little League kicked off its 2023 season on April 15 with an opening day ceremony for the ages.

Hundreds of players and their coaches spread across the infield on one of the fields at the Vista Grande Community Complex in Sandia Park for the festivities, and parents, extended family and friends lined the fences around the perimeter. 

It was East Mountain Little League’s first post-pandemic opening day ceremony — its first in four years.

Singer Melanie Torres performed a beautiful, a cappella rendition of the national anthem, and as she reached the climatic, “o’er the land of the freeee, and the home…of the…brave,” the fans were treated to an exciting six-plane flyover by the Chile Flight Team, coordinated by New Mexico Aero Service.

Bernalillo County District 5 Commissioner, Eric Olivas, who represents the East Mountain area, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

“The turnout today was fantastic, there’s so many families and kids here, the flyover was amazing, the national anthem singer, everything, just a class act here today, I’m really proud to represent the East Mountain Little League, it’s special,” Olivas said.

With nearly 350 players on 31 teams, president Karen Demarest said it’s the best participation numbers the league has had in more than 10 years.

“It’s exciting to see this many kids wanting to play Little League,” Demarest said.