Beloved Little Leaguer Remembered During Pleasanton Foothill Little League Opening Day

PLEASANTON, CA — Hundreds of parents, players and coaches braved the blustery weather Saturday morning to celebrate the opening day of the 2017 Little League season in Pleasanton. Jerseys and banners in every color under the rainbow gathered at the Bernal Sports Park to take to the field for the annual ceremony.

Each of the teams sprinted to congregate around the freshly-groomed diamond and Pleasanton Mayor Jerry Thorne addressed the crowd. Amador Valley High grad Maddie B knocked one out of the park with her version of the “National Anthem” before the first pitch of the season was thrown out.

The league, players and spectators had a moment of silence to pay homage to beloved Little Leaguer Dillon O’Leary, who died in 2016 after battling cancer. O'Leary was diagnosed after he suddenly collapsed on a Pleasanton baseball field in May of 2015. Always a team, the Little League community rallied for his family and the sweet boy who loved all things baseball.

Once the first pitch of the season was tossed out, the teams celebrated the day with ice cream and baseball.

Photos, videos courtesy Autumn Johnson/ Patch