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04/26/2016 03:00 PM

Deep River/Chester Little League Ready to Light It Up for 2016 Season


Top Notch Electric donated its time and services to install the new wireless LED scoreboard at Devitt Field for Deep River-Chester Little League. Photo courtesy of Rachel Welch

Opening Day for Deep River-Chester Little League (DRCLL) on Saturday, April 30 will be the first with both towns merged into a single league, and it will be even more special this season as a brand new wireless LED scoreboard was recently installed to replace the 25-year-old former scoreboard at Devitt’s Field.

“The scoreboard we had previously was just light bulbs that never worked,” said DRCLL President Mark Grabowski. “It will be nice to have a wireless LED scoreboard this year and we are very grateful to all of the donors, corporate and personal.”

Rachel Welch helped lead the fundraising efforts for the new scoreboard, which cost about $3,500. Welch, who has five children playing in DRCLL, had noticed that all of the other fields her children traveled to had functioning scoreboards.

“Every other field we go to has one and the one we had was malfunctioning and needed so much service that we just needed a newer version, something that worked,” said Welch. “All of the kids play hearts out and it’s exciting for them to see the score on the board.”

Welch started a gofundme page (gofundme.com/drll2015), which raised $2,640 toward the $3,500 goal to go along with in-person donations to fund the new scoreboard. The page was promoted through the DRCLL’s website (deepriverll.com), Facebook page (Deep River Chester Little League), email blasts, and more.

“Much to the Little League board’s surprise, the fundraising effort took off,” said Welch, who later became the fundraising coordinator to replace Maureen Douglas. “We thought we’d have to do more fundraising and to hit our goal within eight months was amazing.”

In addition to getting donations from families and friends, several local businesses also stepped up. Juliano’s Pools is sponsoring the plaque under the new scoreboard for the 2016 season and Tim Lee of Top Notch Electrical donated his time and services to install the scoreboard on April 10.

“This project would have cost us a lot more if we had to pay for installation so we are very grateful to Tim and his company,” said Welch. “He donated his time to the league to install the board and we are indebted to him.”

Lee’s family and his friend Steve Budney also helped with the installation, as well as a handful of coaches and board members, including Eric Riebold, Derek Karcich, and Grabowski.

With the scoreboard installed and fully functioning, DRCLL is looking forward to the 2016 Opening Day, which is Saturday, April 30. There will be several speakers as players prepare for the 2016 season.

The day will be bittersweet, though, as the Ensinger family will throw the first pitch. The Ensinger family lost Dennis Ensinger last September. Ensinger was a dedicated volunteer of DRCLL. A golf tournament fundraiser will be held in his memory on Monday, May 2 (see sidebar).

The league expanded this season as Deep River Little League merged with Chester Little League for form Deep River Chester Little League. DRCLL now serves more than 200 children on 22 teams.

“We are more than thrilled and couldn’t be more thankful for the patrons and families of Deep River Little League,” said Welch. “More than anything, we’re excited for the kids to see it. We will have volunteers operating it at games. We are a community–based program and everybody pitches in to make things happen, which is why I love Deep River.”

For information, visit deepriverll.com.

Remembering a Coach and Friend

Deep River Little League’s fundraising efforts continue with a Golf Outing in memory of Dennis F. Ensinger at Lake of Isles adjacent to Foxwoods Casino on Monday, May 2 with a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start.

“Dennis Ensinger was a coach and friend of the league and the league would like to support his two young sons in this small way,” said Rachel Welch. “Proceeds will not only benefit the league, but will also be donated to a family who lost their patriarch this year at a young age.”

The entry fee of $145 per person includes 18 holes of golf at one of Golf Magazine’s top 100 places to golf, cart, a banquet dinner and awards ceremony, and entry into a raffle for one of two 90-day memberships to Lake of Isles. Golfers can enter as part of a foursome and single golfers will be added to a foursome.

In addition to supporting the Ensinger family, the event will benefit other needs of the league, including replacing the clay at Devitt Field and securing a second scoreboard for the new Plattwood Park field. DRCLL is also seeking tee sponsors.

For information, contact Tina Policapro at 860-312-2106 or tpolicapro@troongolf.com.