Now that the area high school athletic seasons are in full swing, it’s time for the future stars to hit the local diamonds.
This weekend will mark the opening day for most area youth baseball and softball leagues.
The Tri-County League will get things started with Opening-Day festivities for both softball and baseball on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. with a parade from Kringle Candle to Pratt Field in Bernardston.
This season the Majors Division will be playing with the Greenfield Minor League, but Minors and Rookies Divisions will join softball for games, which are slated to begin at 11 a.m.
• The Greenfield Girls’ Softball League celebrates its 25th season at Murphy Park with Opening-Day on Saturday.
The league’s annual parade will start from Valley Medical Center at 11:45 a.m. and arrive at Murphy Park at approximately noon for the opening-day ceremonies.
Hamburgers and hot dogs will be served right after the ceremony, with games starting at 1 p.m.
This year’s Grand Marshal is Richard Mascavage, who has volunteered for the GGSL for over 20 years and was honored during The Coaches Classic Tournament — also at Murphy Park — for the work he has done in helping it become a successful event. Mascavage, who first became a member of the GGSL’s Board of Directors in 1995, still attends every Board meeting even though he stepped down in 2004.
• On Sunday, the Greenfield Minor League opens its season with the annual parade from Greenfield Middle School to Lunt Field, which begins at 11 a.m. Butch Martin, who is celebrating his 50th year as a league coach, is Grand Marshal.
Opening ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 11:30, featuring a tribute to the late Dave Charest, a former league coach and member of the GML’s Board of Directors who passed away unexpectedly over the winter. A full slate of eight games will follow at 1:30, 3 and 5:30 p.m.
• The Newt Guilbault Community League also opens on Sunday, starting with its parade at 11 a.m. from Turners Falls High School to Campbell Field. Legendary Powertown coach, teacher and public figure George Bush will again be Grand Marshal.
Opening ceremonies are expected to begin at 11:30. Nick Lyons, who was last year’s league Collins Award winner, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Games will begin at 1 and 3:30 p.m.
• The Frontier Cal Ripken League will hold its opening ceremonies on April 30, but the regular season will actually begin Tuesday, with games in the Minors Division. The 50/70 season opens Wednesday, and the Majors Division gets underway Thursday.
The April 30 opening ceremonies will be held in Conway at its newly rebuilt field. A parade starting from Town Hall will begin at 10 a.m., followed by a pre-games ceremony at noon. Games are also scheduled for 2:30 at 5 p.m.
• The Hilltown Youth baseball and softball leagues are expected to begin in the next two weeks, but exact opening dates weren’t available at press time. Hilltown Softball League Commissioner Mike Churchill said he hoped to have the season start on May 9.