I Love a Parade

 

GORC Spring Sports Parade
Odenton, MD
April 15, 2023

Before the drenching afternoon thunderstorms arrived yesterday to cancel most of the scheduled games, there was a parade to celebrate the beginning of the youth sports season in Odenton. The Gambrills-Odenton Recreation Council's (GORC) Annual Spring Sports Parade kicked off at 9 AM with police, a firetruck, and most importantly hundreds of youth sports enthusiasts. The day was gray and overcast, but spirits were high as this annual celebration of Springtime resumed after a three-year hiatus.

While all of the spring sports: baseball, soccer, flag football, lacrosse, and softball were represented, baseball was king with the most teams and most youth participating in the parade. In the image, the firetruck is at the head of the parade with the teams arrayed behind. On the left, in green, are the players of the Arundel High School baseball teams (Varsity and JV). As each of the GORC baseball teams passed by, two members of the Arundel High School Teams were added to the team for the parade. Most all of the Arundel High School baseball players began by learning the game on a GORC field and likely participated in this very parade when they were younger.

Jax (on the left in green) with the Pirates
Odenton, MD
April 15, 2023

Jax marched in the parade. He was inserted into one of the teams. He marched with one of the Pirates teams and it was a step back into time because for a couple years he was on a Pirates team learning the fundamentals of baseball. 

Having the high schoolers march with the younger players reminds them of their baseball beginnings. After the parade concluded in the sports complex, the high schoolers were given an hour to be on their own fields for practice. And it was not a short practice, running from 10:30 AM until 1:30 PM. Wow. 

And so with a bit of fanfare, a fire truck, and the expected Maryland Springtime thunderstorms the youth sports season got underway!

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD