Play Ball! Kids of all sizes at Optimist Club’s opening night

     Miami Lakes Optimist Club’s baseball program celebrated opening day on February 28, when teams gathered to kick off the new season of play.

     Joining them were retired Major League Baseball center fielder Preston Wilson, who played for the Florida Marlins and other teams; Miami Marlins mascot Billy the Marlin; Miami Lakes Mayor Josh Dieguez; Vice Mayor Bryan Morera and Councilmen Angelo Cuadra Garcia and Alex Sanchez. 

     While Sasha Nicole Rodriguez performed the national anthem, Scouting America Troop 529 Girls presented the colors as the sun set on Optimist Park. 

     With a shout of ‘Play ball!’ Dieguez threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Morera, Sanchez and Cuadra Garcia also tossed balls to the kids, said Jim Hamilton of the Optimist Club.