Youth Day Parade attracts family, friends

MOSES LAKE - Family and friends of baseball and softball players enjoyed the energy shown by the athletes during the Dick Kelley Youth Day Parade.

The event was held in downtown Moses Lake and featured about 100 vehicles full of uniformed baseball and softball players, each grouped by team.

With music playing and horns blasting, the athletes waved, shouted out to the people lining the street and threw candy.

The crowd smiled and waved back, scooping up candy and danced to the music.

Audience members yelled across Third Avenue to greet each other.

Art Lopez and Nolan Dominguez attended the parade because they have sons playing baseball.

Dominguez has two children and Lopez has three children.

Lopez explained games already started for the season, but Saturday's games were the main games.

"Everyday for the rest of the week, it's practice of a game," Lopez said.

Nearby, Nicole Reffett was seated with her family. She has a daughter and a niece playing for the Chiefs and a nephew on the Orioles team.

Mario Padilla said he attended to support the youth and his grandchildren.

"If we didn't show up, we wouldn't hear the end of it," he commented.

Donnie and Bonnie Fuller, of Moses Lake, watched the parade with their son, Donnie.

The Fullers said they attended to support their grandson, Tyson Fuller.

The parade ended at Larson Baseball Field, where opening ceremonies were held.

The parade's grand marshal, Marie Jones, received a plaque for her support of the Moses Lake Youth Baseball Association.

She has assisted the association for 11 years and served on the board for 10 years.