Ron La Ducca honored for years of contributions
to youth baseball and softball

Photos and story by Terry Duffy
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, December 17, 2005

As Christmas nears and 2005 comes to a close, members of the Town of Lewiston Recreation Commission gathered this past week to recognize the success and growth of the Town Recreation Department over past decades, and credit those who have greatly steered the process.

With upwards of 50 assembled at Tin Pan Alley on Wednesday, recreation members recognized the efforts of departing Town Board members James Langlois, John Ceretto and Dan Kilmer for all they have they done over the past several years to improve the town’s recreation programs, particularly with regards to youth baseball/softball programs.

And they paid tribute to departing Parks and Recreation chair Ron La Ducca, credited by all as the key player responsible for steering the town’s baseball/softball programs to the 21st century.

“It’s been a wonderful ride,” said Ceretto, who received a plaque that evening in appreciation for his work on recreation improvements. Ceretto, who is moving on to the Niagara County Legislature’s 12th District seat, spoke of his contributions as recreation liaison from 1996 to 2001 and in 2004. Among these were behind the scenes efforts with Town Highway Superintendent Steve Reiter in the building of the Pletcher Road and Washuta Field ball diamonds as well as his spearheading creation of the town’s skateboard park at Pletcher.

Langlois and Kilmer, who were also presented plaques in recognition of their contributions to recreation as board liaisons, were cited for continuing efforts to grow and enhance town recreational offerings for youths in Lewiston and Youngstown, particularly with respect to youth baseball.

The well-deserved accolades of all three proved the perfect backdrop for the group’s honoring of the man of the evening – La Ducca, who is stepping down following decades of service to Lewiston youth sports.

La Ducca, a member of the Recreation Commission since 1987 and its chairman since 2003, was singled out by many in attendance that night as being the “driving force” towards making the town’s baseball program what it is today. Through his efforts he has been a “voice for all children” said Town Parks and Recreation Director Mike Dashinau, who pointed out La Ducca was to first to bring major emphasis to creating a girls softball program in the town in the late ‘80s.

The Lewiston Town Board echoed those thoughts with its proclamation designating Dec. 14 as “Ron La Ducca Day” in the town. Board members and Supervisor Fred Newlin conveyed their praise to La Ducca for his key tireless role in the advancement of youth baseball programs, making Lewiston’s program one of the most desired in all of Niagara County.

And Steve Reiter pointed out that La Ducca was the force behind creating new ball diamonds at Kiwanis and the development of both Pletcher Road Park and Washuta Field into quality ball fields. “He was a major part of all of this,” said Reiter.

La Ducca, who received well-deserved rounds of applause as he accepted the honors, opened by stating, “I could talk here all night … the memories keep rolling after 18 years.”

La Ducca told the crowd how he started out with a low-profile youth recreational baseball program back in the 1980s with 120 players and all of two useable diamonds. “We fought like hell to get where we are today,” La Ducca said, pointing to the early years when Youngstown’s recreation programs under the direction of the late Nancy Price stood out over Lewiston’s, and extending credit to the many in attendance – coaches, players, parents and volunteers -- who have worked with him to make the Lewiston program the success it is today.

Recalling his efforts with Reiter throughout the years to create and improve upon the town’s baseball facilities, La Ducca said, ”We kept growing. We now have one of the premier recreation programs in the area,” referring to the successful Lewiston and Youngstown baseball/softball program which has over 600 participating.

He closed by stressing to all the need to continue their push in support of youth sports in the years ahead. Noting the latest discussions by the village and town towards construction of new softball facilities in the Lewiston plateau area at Artpark, La Ducca said, ”This is about you, what your kids want, what they deserve.

“Lewiston’s is a Camelot,” he said “but we still have a lot to do.”