Area players hit the baseball diamond
Area players hit the diamond
HARLEYSVILLE » Confetti cannons went off, signaling the start of another Little League season.
Even before all of the sparkling, shiny debris could land on the crowded infield, the call rang out loud from Marty Wetzel: “Play ball.”
“Good turnout and beautiful weather — can’t ask for anything better than that,” said Wetzel, a committee member for Hat field Tow am enc in and the emcee for Saturday’s festivities. “It’s nice to see. There’s a lot of competing sports and programs out there but to have all of these kids in the league is nice to see.”
The parade of players included kids of all ages and sizes sporting uniform colors from purple to fluorescent green. All of the teams lined the perimeter of the infield dirt and got to hear a smooth, barber-shop-quartet rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”
A field-sized American flag was unfurled, held onto by all the players and coaches as the National Anthem was performed.
“It’s good to have everybody out here, good to have some of the younger kids see the big kids and where they’ll be someday,” Wetzel said.
Hatfield-Towamencin’s quickball starts at age four, so the baseball teams run from ages four to 12, with softball going from six
to 12. There are 15-year-old teams as well.
The Chick-Fil-A cow was in attendance, running the bases while tossing prizes to the crowds of players. The season was off to a sunny start.
“It’s really nice to see this many people out,” softball director Charlie Cole said to the crowd. “(I wanted to thank the) volunteers, coaches, parents, everybody involved in making this happen, and frankly making TYA happen, not just what you see here today, but everything behind the scenes.
“Thanks to all of the coaches, the endless hours you put in. Sometimes you
wind up doing the book, cutting the grass, organizing lineups and everything that’s involved in that. Thank a coach today.” NORTH PENN IN FULL SWING
» Not far away, North Penn Little League also got its season underway, with a parade of teams, and Ladder 12 of Colmar Volunteer Fire Company fully extended out over the field.
Opening Day baseballs were thrown down from the towering ladder above, traveling over 100 feet for the first pitches of the season. North Penn High School senior Emma Moyer sang the National Anthem, followed by the much-anticipated mascot race.
Government officials on hand at North Penn included Senator Stewart Greenleaf, Senator Bob Mensch and PA State Representative Robert Godshall, and more.
GOING TO BAT » Bergey’s Chevrolet is partnering with the North Penn Baseball Association/North Penn Little League, providing new equipment and invitations to free instructional clinics.
Said Brian Derstine, General Manager for Bergey’s Chevrolet: “Playing the game of baseball helps kids develop skills like leadership, cooperation and sportsmanship while bringing families and communities together to show their support.
“Bergey’s Chevrolet and Chevrolet Youth Baseball are proud to participate in a sport that brings so many smiles to kids and families in our community. Chevrolet believes that in play, there are possibilities and supports the spirit of teamwork that baseball instills in its players”