Longtime umpire honored on Little League's Opening Day

Mark Pellerin (second from left) was honored on Saturday for his years of service as a youth baseball umpire.

A scheduling delay because of rain didn’t dampen the enthusiasm for Menifee Valley Little League’s Opening Ceremonies, which took place on Saturday in Winchester.

A total of 31 teams paraded before friends and family on a day that included a pancake breakfast, basket raffle and games. Mayor Bill Zimmerman threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Chase Davidson, who has played in MVLL since 2017 (left).

Chase injured his arm during the first game of the 2022 spring season and had to sit out the season following surgery. He was cleared to play this year and was selected to catch the ceremonial first pitch.

The league also honored local resident Mark Pellerin, who has umpired in youth baseball for nearly 50 years. An All-Star in La Mirada Little League in 1961-62, Pellerin started umpiring in the early 1970s and attended Umpire Mechanics training camp at Little League Headquarters in San Bernardino in 1975.

Pellerin has been umpiring with MVLL for about 20 years. He built a practice area on his property in Quail Valley for local teams to use. Pellerin received a plaque of recognition and umpired a game on Saturday.