Gioia Opens Youth Baseball League 7th Season

City Councilmember Eric Gioia and LIC YMCA Executive Director Jay Cruz flank the Phantoms on Opening Day of the Gioia-YMCA Youth Baseball League. Back row (l. to r.): Oscar Escalante, Coach Elvis Reyes, Simone Lindsey, Michael Logan and Coach Peter Garcia; front row: Ceclia Hernandez, Christopher Reyes, Nicholas Reyes; (kneeling): David Diaz, Michael Vega and Daniel Byrne.

In an opening day ceremony at 6:30 p.m. last Friday, City Councilmember Eric Gioia threw out the first pitch to start the seventh season of the Gioia-YMCA All-Stars Youth Baseball League at Queensbridge Park on Vernon Boulevard at 41st Avenue, just north of the Queensboro Bridge.

Gioia founded the league in 2002 when he noticed that the children of Queensbridge had little to do. Since then, the league has blossomed and now has a lengthy waiting list of aspiring players. Quality of life crimes have dropped and with a new youth basketball league this year, extracurricular opportunities have continued to expand to provide Long Island City children with year-round extracurricular opportunities.

The Mustangs are excited about Opening Day. Back row: Coach Rafael Mendoza, Justin Cabrera, John Cinar, Kenneth Mendoza, Tahj Mason, Mark Barillas and Coach Ronnie Barillas; front row: Rafael Viera, Anthony Noel Arce, David Velasquez and Brendan O'Brien.