Text & Photos By: Maria Moore
Bright sunshine and a chill in the air – perfect conditions to play ball! And those were just the conditions yesterday morning at Brown’s Corner when New Hartford Youth Baseball/Softball held its Opening Day ceremony.
The teams streamed onto the field and could hardly contain their excitement as the adults made their speeches, the scouts marched the flags onto the field and the National Anthem was sung. And then the first pitch was thrown and – the moment they had all been waiting for – the youngest member of a T-ball team called out: “Play Ball!”
Following are photos of the Opening Day Ceremony at Brown’s Corner – the place to be at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 28!
A sunny, crisp Saturday morning - perfect for Opening Day at Brown's Corner
Waiting to get started
Waiting in line to enter the field under the watchful eye of Wendy Penn (at center)
The South End Fire truck on duty on Opening Day
The teams start to fill the field
More teams sprint onto the field
Almost all the teams are on the field
The ceremony gets under way
Youth Sports President Dale Martin thanks long-time volunteer Lou Castellani who recently resigned from his active role in Youth Sports. Sally O'Neill, who was not at Opening Day, was also thanked for all her hard work on behalf of Youth Sports
The Scouts march onto the field bearing the flags
Saluting the flags
The National Anthem
First Selectman Dan Jerram says a few words about the improvements that have taken place over the last two years at Brown's Corner
Throwing the first pitch
Congratulating the pitcher
Returning back to his team
"Play Ball" is called by the youngest player in T-ball
The ceremony over, the officials head out to watch some ball
A last look back at the crowd assembled for Opening Day
Brown's Corner
