Natick Little League officially kicked off the town’s youth baseball and softball seasons on Saturday morning with its first parade in four years, brightening the streets of South Natick with colorful uniforms and sparkling bats.

The past few parades have been nixed either due to rain or COVID-19, so kids and families were only too happy to brave a chilly start to the day with a little pomp & circumstance at Hunnewell Fields, then some games.

While the games officially began with the shouting of “Play Ball!” by one of the Natick High School varsity baseball players, it really began when one of the Little League officials asked before the first pitch “Does anybody have a glove?” Now that’s the Little League I remember…

And then there was the early favorite for league MVP that we discovered.

About 600 kids are participating in Natick Little League this season, according to Executive Director Matt Lodi. Thanks to all the volunteers for helping the not-for-profit league do what it does.