The official start of youth baseball and softball in town will take place when Norton Youth Baseball and Softball holds its annual Opening Day Saturday, April 30.
Much of the Opening Day activities will be held at the next Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In its fifth year of existence, Opening Day will also feature a parade at the Burchill Field Complex as well as an opening day ceremony.
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“The ballplayers, coaches and fans look forward to the baseball season all year long, and this year we hope to make it another special season for them all, beginning with a great opening day,” said opening day coordinator Howie Fisher.
Team and individual pictures, with all the players and their coaches, will be taken first, rain or shine, at Yelle starting 7:30 a.m. Each team sponsor will be presented with a plaque and team photo.
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All the baseball and softball teams from the NYBS, the Norton Challenger League and the Norton Town and Recreation League will first take part in pictures. Some of the players will then head to the back of the school to participate in the Pitch, Hit and Run competition.
There are games scheduled for Opening Day, and those will be played on the two fields at the Burchill Field Complex with the first contest beginning at 1 p.m. That part of the day’s activities will feature announcers, a concession stand, DJ Michael Kern along with special presentations and the opening day ceremony. Town resident Alex Donato will sing the National Anthem prior to the day’s first pitch.
This year’s Opening Day at the Yelle School will also feature a concession stand, train ride for the younger children, a small petting zoo and face painting. There will also be an obstacle course on the field hosted by a local martial arts organization.
Professionals from a local physical therapy organization will be in attendance to discuss injury prevention and dynamic stretching as well as other strength and conditioning questions that those in attendance may have.
will also have a short demonstration in the back of the school.
On April 30, the NYBS hopes that each baseball and softball player as well as all those in attendance will bring a canned food item and deposit them in the boxes that will be supplied at the Yelle School to support the Cupboard of Kindness, which is a non-profit organization that serves the residents of Norton who are in need of food relief.