West Side Little League’s Mascot Pays a Surprise Visit: ‘Play Ball’!

by Debbie Kling

Every March is crunch time.

No, I’m not a tax accountant anticipating April 15th.

I’m Debbie Kling, President of the West Side Little League. And our “Tax Day” is April 1st, the League’s Opening Day.

The other morning, I was sitting at the kitchen table, staring at my Must-Do List.  Schedules, field permits, team lists, equipment orders, schedules, rosters, sponsors, uniforms, background checks of volunteers and CPR requirements. And, of course, bills.

I laid my head on my arms. Every March for the past 15 years it’s been like this.

Where to start?

Suddenly I heard an odd rattling sound outside my window. But it wasn’t raining. Maybe roof work, with debris landing on my air conditioner.

Then I heard a tweet. Not the electronic kind, but an old-fashioned ornithological chirp.

I ran to the window. And there it was. A big, beautiful, brown-and-yellow hawk perched on my air conditioner.

I drew in my breath. And then I started to laugh. How perfect to be visited by a hawk in crunch-time. For the “Hawks” is the name of the West Side Little League’s tournament teams

Every summer our Hawks teams compete against other Little Leagues in the city — and if they win, they advance to play teams from throughout the state. Last year our Juniors Hawks team, under the leadership of League VP Jim Glasgow, did us proud by winning the New York State Championship.

The Hawks moniker has a long history. It was first bestowed in 2008–my debut year as league president—when a hawk paid a visit to coach José Aguilera’s tournament team practice in Morningside Park.

That summer, for the first time ever, two West Side teams, including Jose’s, won their District Championships. It was also the year I was successfully treated for breast cancer.

As Emily Dickinson wrote: Hope is the thing with feathers.

Welling up, I took a video of the magnificent creature, then texted it to José, Jim, and a host of other tournament team coaches, past and present.

“Our mascot is visiting League headquarters,” José quipped.

“Can it pitch?” division head David Halberstadt texted.

“It’s a sign,” said Diego Figueroa, a recent West Side alum, who once played tournament and helped coach a team this past summer.

We then shared recollections and photos of other hawk sightings over the ballfields in Riverside Park. It was a lovely bonding moment for our volunteers who work so hard for the League and the children of our community.

I’m not particularly superstitious. I live on a high floor, and it made sense that a hawk might find my air conditioner appealing.

Still, I can’t deny that the bird’s appearance felt like a happy omen.

I returned to my mountain of tasks with renewed vigor and sense of purpose.

With a community like ours and the blessings of our winged mascot, I’m sure it will be a good season.

Play ball!

Read about last year’s state championship win here.

The West Side Little League is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization composed almost entirely of parent volunteers — both on the coaching and administrative sides. To learn more about its programs and scholarships, click here.