Mayor Lieberman tosses ceremonial first pitch at Clifton Park

To celebrate the first home game of the delayed North Shore Softball League season, Sea Cliff Mayor Edward Lieberman was invited to throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Aug. 16.

Traditionally, the mayor throws out the first pitch following the Sea Cliff Baseball & North Shore Softball League’s opening day parade in April. Although the parade was cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, Commissioner James Versocki said he and the league’s board were determined to have some sort of season. He said they settled on a shortened 10-game season to give players and their families something to enjoy toward the end of the summer.

Lieberman said he was happy to hear that the softball season was back on, as it is a good sign of things moving forward. He said the game was an inspiring event, as baseball was an important part of his youth.

“It was a real sign of not only spring time and Americana — our national past time — but it was also a good time for our youth,” Lieberman said, “so I wanted to thank them individually for continuing the game and getting that spirit of community and youth back in play.”

Versocki said the mayor was one of the league’s sponsors alongside Local 138 Operating Engineers, helping to pay for uniforms and equipment for the season.

“The mayor and the village have always been great supporters of the league and the community,” Versocki said, “so we just wanted to express our thanks to them for allowing the season to go forward.”

Versocki said the game felt like a bit of a return to normalcy. It was important for the community to see and hear children play baseball again, he said, especially the parents and grandparents who were in attendance.

“It made people happy,” he said. “It’s important right now because people have been locked down for so long.”