May 2010 EP

Page 1

The East Providence

eporter R

MAY 2010 VOLUME 6, NO. 5

FREE

Serving the Community and Businesses of East Providence

Summer Sun & Fun Upcoming Day Trips, Camps, & Outdoor Activities

Turn to page 47

Big Al’s Little League Team

by Carolyn Bray When you meet Little League coach Chris Grant, you expect him to talk a lot about what he does and plans for the Riverside team of 10 to 1 -year-old boys he coaches. However, you quickly learn that what this tall, bearded, Rob Reiner look-alike wants to talk about regarding the team he coaches is the late Big Al Santie. There are four Little League teams in Riverside, playing 1 games per season, and they only play other major division teams - kids 10-1 years of age - wearing green shirts for Big Al, the color chosen by Al himself. The team is all boys now but Coach Grant says girls are also welcome. The team Coach Grant works with is also named after Big Al, and a memorial to the late coach - whose big smile and loud laugh were known all over East Providence - rests in the field where the team plays. Coach and team gather around the Big Al’s memorial to pay their respects before their games. “Big Al was a legend,” Coach Grant begins, warming to his subject. What could make a very large group of East Providence men and boys - Big Al coached a lot of teams, including basketball, for many years - so reverent and devoted to the memory of one man? “There was a certain way he handled his teams, it was just unique,” Grant asserts.” The coach shows pictures of Big Al in a booklet about Riverside Little League as he speaks. continued on page 15...

10th Annual Memorial Day Parade Monday May 31st The parade will step off from the James Oldham School on Bullocks Point Avenue at 10:00 A.M., and will conclude at the American Legion Hall on 830 Willett Avenue. There will be a Steak Fry at the Legion after the parade and free hot dogs for the kids! Tickets for the Steak Fry are $10.00 each. This event is open to the public.

Wearing green is Riverside's Little League Team, in memory of Big Al.


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