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Date: 11/16/2022
AGAWAM – The one thing everyone agrees on is that the recent improvements to Borgatti and Memorial parks are a welcome boost for the town and the Agawam Little League.
It’s the timing of a ceremony celebrating the state-funded work that had one local leader crying foul, and youth sports volunteers publicly calling her out.
On Oct. 27, state Sen. John Velis joined town and Little League officials to announce that $25,000 in state funding had paid for the new baseball scoreboard at Borgatti Park on River Road, upgraded dugouts and new equipment. The work also included dugout work at Memorial Field on School Street. Velis hosted a check-passing ceremony and posed for photos with youth sports leaders at Borgatti Park.
The image did not sit well with Agawam City Councilor Cecilia Calabrese, who at the time was Velis’ Republican opponent in his campaign for reelection.
On Oct. 28, Calabrese posted to her campaign Facebook page: “I think it is shameful that the people in charge of Agawam Little League have turned that awesome organization into the public relations wing for the Democrat Party … because that’s what this is … baseball season is over and doesn’t start again until spring.”
Addressing taxpayers, she added, “It should be your name on the front of that check, not John’s. You paid for that scoreboard, not him.”
At the Nov. 9 meeting of the City Council, the presidents of Agawam’s youth baseball and football leagues sharply criticized the comments, without naming Calabrese personally.
“It is shameful that an elected official would attack a non-political, nonprofit organization made up of many volunteers that elected these people to serve,” said Agawam Little League President A.J. Christopher.
Dave DeMatteo, current president of Agawam Youth Football and a past president of the Little League, noted that though baseball season is over, some of the park improvements also benefited the football teams, which are active in the fall. He characterized Calabrese’s post as an attack on youth sports, which saw games and fundraisers canceled during the COVID-19 state of emergency, using any means at hand for financial help.
“I find it disheartening that one of our own elected officials on the Agawam City Council has used youth sports and youth sports organizations in a political campaign,” he said.
Her post included a copy of a photo posted on Facebook by the Agawam Little League showing six people holding an oversized check. The only elected officials pictured were Velis and City Councilor Anthony Russo, who was also a Democratic candidate for state representative.
After the council meeting, Calabrese told Reminder Publishing that she saw the funding announcement as a partisan event because of the timing, just days before the election, and because it seemed only Velis’ supporters were invited. She said she supported youth sports and funding for youth sports, and would not have objected to the Velis event if a broader group of town leaders, including herself as vice president of the City Council, had been included.
At the end of the meeting, Calabrese said publicly that she has “deep appreciation for the work” done by Christopher and DeMatteo, and would appreciate the chance to speak with them privately about her concerns.
Several other councilors added their own comments, thanking Christopher, DeMatteo and other volunteers for their work, and stating that this incident had reinforced to them that it’s important to think before posting comments online.
“As an elected official, you really have to be careful on your words, whether you say them or express them on a social site,” said Councilor Anthony Suffriti. “This has been a caution to myself. Your words that you say are taken to heart by people in the community.”
None of the councilors, however, publicly criticized Calabrese or Velis.
Christopher said he had highlighted Velis, Russo and Mayor William Sapelli for praise because it was Velis who ensured the funding would be added to the state budget, and Russo and Sapelli who helped him present the funding request to Velis.
At the Oct. 27 event, Velis said, “I am a firm believer that one of the best outlets for youth in our communities is sports and recreation. So many valuable life lessons, and important teamwork and communication skills, are gained through participation in sports.
“I am very thankful for the conversations with the Agawam Little League and Agawam Parks and Rec that made me aware of this need. As senator, it is my job to advocate for our district however I can, and I am glad that I could secure this funding to help the Little League install a new scoreboard, upgrade its dugouts, and purchase new equipment.”
The director of the town’s Parks and Recreation Department, Christopher Sparks, explained to Reminder Publishing that the focus of the funding is to install new dugouts on the three fields that are used by the Little League for girls softball. He said his department works “hand in hand” with the Agawam Little League and “is glad to get the funding so we can improve the fields.”
Christopher said the new equipment included safety gear for catchers and umpires, as well as new bases to replace old ones.