NEWPORT BEACH — Opening Day was a special one for Newport Beach Little League.
It was a special day when the ceremonial first pitch could be thrown by a boy, Harry Dill, who just four months ago discovered he had a brain tumor. It was a special day when that first pitch could be caught by a man, Jim Abbott, who was born without a right hand but went on to have a distinguished professional career.
It was a special day when another boy, Julian Dunn, who less than two years ago was given just a 20% chance of surviving cancer, could make his baseball debut.
The sun shined brightly Saturday morning at Bonita Canyon Sports Park. So did the smiles.
Abbott, the guest speaker and a Newport Beach resident, was a big part of it. The hurler, who played for the Angels, Yankees, White Sox and Brewers during his 10-year major league career, even played to the crowd.