Opening Day For Little League

(JACK RHODES/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) Oglethorpe County resident Elmer Gray, an entomologist with the University of Georgia’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, throws out the first softball pitch during Opening Day ceremonies at Bryan Park. Abigail Chappell, a Little League player, caught Gray’s pitch.

(JACK RHODES/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) Little league players and coaches turn towards the flag as the national anthem plays during the opening ceremony. The national anthem was introduced by Scott Liedberg and sung by Jeremiah Stephens.

(JACK RHODES/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) Nola Fleming (#11) stops at first after hitting a ball off of a coach's pitch. She played on one of the 7-8 year old teams that consisted of both girls and boys.

(JACK RHODES/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) Coleman Rogers winds up to throw the first pitch of the opening little league boys 10 under game. It was a great day for baseball with the sun out and the temperature being in the 70s for the first games.

(JACK RHODES/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) Little league teams kick off the parade as they walk together holding up signs from their sponsors. The sponsor consisted of local businesses and each team had a specific sponsor assigned to them.

(JACK RHODES/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) Michael White, director of the Oglethorpe recreation department, gives the opening remarks after the conclusion of the player parade. He acknowledged numerous volunteers who helped put together the entire event.

(JACK RHODES/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) Brian Buck (#28), Trey Gabriel (#40) and Griffin Foster (#22) line up as they get honored as part of the previous little league all-star team. This was a part of the opening ceremony that kicked off a full day of baseball and softball

(JACK RHODES/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) Everet Boss celebrates after sliding into second base in the little league coach pitch game. The game consisted of 7-8 year old boys and girls on the same team, along with a mix of parents who took turns pitching to their children.