The Westchester Del Rey little league (WDRLL) kicked off their 52nd season with a memorable opening ceremony on Saturday, February 21 at Nielsen Field.
Not only were 16 girls’ softball and 10 co-ed T-ball teams represented during the morning’s festivities, but L.A. Mayor Karen Bass made a special appearance to meet with players and their families.
Mayor Bass was also on hand to recognize the 2025 West Region Championship team, which made it all the way to the World Series of Softball during the summer.
After each team was announced, players had a chance to run the bases and pose for a picture. As part of the tradition, Kingston Clarke representing T-ball and Mikayla Gonzalez representing softball, threw out the first pitch.
“We’re incredibly excited to kick off the 2026 season,” says league president Jim Evans. “Opening Day is always special, but having Mayor Bass join us to recognize our 2025 West Region Championship team made it truly memorable. It meant a great deal to our players and families to see their hard work honored at that level. Her presence reinforced how important youth sports are to building confidence, teamwork, and community pride. We’re looking forward to building on that momentum this season—continuing to expand opportunities for girls in softball and T-ball and creating a positive, competitive experience for every player who steps on the field.”
WDRLL is open to softball players ages 6-14 and T-Ball players ages 3-6. Learn more at wdrll.org.
Photos by Elaina Taylor.