Sulla Throws First Pitch to Open Harrison Little League Season

By ANGELA KELLOGG-HENRY

Cleaver Managing Editor

HARRISON-Harrison Little League celebrated the opening of their season a bit differently this year. Instead of a full Saturday program their opening festivities was split into two days. All games were scheduled for Saturday and on Friday evening, May 1, the City of Harrison joined in the celebration with a ribbon cutting for the grand opening of the new concession stand. Other traditions were held on Friday with the first pitch, parade around the fields and the VFW Honor Guard raising the flag. Food trucks joined the fun and Little League concluded their raffle fundraiser.

The City of Harrison is wrapping up their DNR Sparks Grant work at Harrison City Park which includes the new concession stand/restrooms, paved trails in the lower part of the park for accessibility to the baseball and softball fields, handicap accessible parking, new playground, pickleball courts and more. The concessions stand and restrooms are also convenient near the Phelps Nature Trail.

This year’s first pitch honoree to officially open the Harrison Little League season was John Sulla. Once again, local resident Carol Stier sang the national anthem and Hunter Taylor, youth pastor at Brown Corners Church, offered a prayer.

Sulla was a Harrison Little League coach for over 30 years and is an avid baseball fan. He still helps coach his grandchildren’s teams.

“Our whole lives, we’ve watched my dad give his time to baseball and softball,” said his daughter Haley Schanhals. “We got to see firsthand his love for the sport, which turns out to be contagious. Me, my siblings, the kids he coaches, fall in love with the game. He teaches them to be proud of themselves and proud of their community, that being a Hornet means something positive.

“In games where we might have been the underdog, I never felt it because of him. His positivity, empathy, knowledge, and heart make all the difference. He has instilled his love for coaching in his kids and continues to help coach his grandkids. His time and effort given has created so much love for baseball in this community. We are so beyond proud to see him celebrated today.”

Sulla threw the opening to pitch to his grandson Tristan Muehlenbeck. Muehlenbeck is a 14U player in the league this year.

New to the Friday evening festivities this year was the Home Run Derby fundraiser. Coaches, former coaches, parents and visitors paid $5 to try their skill with the pitching machine to see who could hit the farthest home run. Lucas Gillispie won with a ball hit over of the fence!