“I want to welcome back our parents to another season of rooting, cheering and, of course, snack duty,” Downtown Little League’s new president, Tom Merrill, announced to an assembled crowd of eager ballplayers and parents at the league’s season kick-off last month on the Battery Park City ball fields.

It was also the start of an annual event, the honoring of people who have made special contributions to the league. Merrill presented plaques to T.J. Westfall for his stewardship of the league’s high-tech Web site, and to Councilman Alan Gerson for his political advocacy on behalf of the league.

Just 100 days into the job, State Senator Daniel Squadron was initiated into the annual ritual for all local elected officials—declaring the start of a “great season.”

“I was trying to bring up ‘Casey at the Bat’ on my Blackberry,” he began, “so we’ll have to wait until next year.”

Merrill deadpanned his own one-liner to the Junior Minor players.

“I’ve been looking at the [pitching] machine,” he told the 8-year-olds, “and I got to tell you, it’s lost a little on its change up from last season. So I think you guys are going to have a good year.”