Claremont Little League’s 65th spring season got underway at 8 a.m. Saturday with three games at College Park and one at Griffith Park.

Emiliano De La Cruz is mobbed by his major league Angels team after belting an extra innings grand slam that them up 5-1 over the Mariners. The Angels won, 5-3. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

In the majors division opener at College Park the Angels rode an Emiliano De La Cruz extra innings grand slam to a 5-3 win against the Mariners, the JV division Twins topped the Pirates, 12-10, and the farm division Rockhounds and Bulls tied, 4-4. The Dodgers beat the Brewers, 14-7, at Griffith Park to begin the juniors’ season.

Thirty-seven teams throughout T-ball, farm, minor, majors, JV, junior, and intermediate division are competing this year, with about 480 players and 111 coaches.

CLL President Jenny Ballesteros began the opening day ceremony at 10:30 a.m. She introduced members of Claremont City Council and the city manager in attendance and honored the 2023 state champion 11-and-under all-star team and its coaches with plaques. The day also included a raffle, and the announcement that CLL families had raised about $15,000 to construct batting cages. Ballesteros recognized Brian Dorman as the CLL volunteer of the decade before he threw out the ceremonial first pitch of the season.

Play continued with T-ball at noon at Blaisdell, a minor league matchup at 1 p.m. at College Park, and a 2:30 p.m. game at Griffith Park.

More info is at claremontlittleleague.org.

Members of the minor league Cardinals during Saturday’s opening day ceremony. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

Mattias Arredondo of the major league Angels slides into home Saturday during his team’s 5-3 victory over the Mariners. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

Donovan Schmelebeck of the JV Marlins during Claremont Little League’s opening ceremony on Saturday. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

The major league Mariners’ Noah Torres. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

Rockhounds coach Jim Boerkoel adjusts Marcus Centeno’s swing during a Claremont Little League farm league game Saturday. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo