Some of my favorite memories have been made at the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex either coaching or watching my children play ball.
Organized by the Blytheville Baseball Softball Boosters, the Blytheville youth baseball and softball season begins next week at one of the best youth sports venues in the state, the Sportsplex.
BBSB and the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex are two of our town’s best assets.
Local ball season is truly a rite of spring and, since the early 1950s, it has been made possible by the many BBSB volunteers that work so hard to keep it going year after year.
This is the first time in 10 years that I won’t have a child playing baseball or softball, but my 14-year-old son Parker will still be hanging around the fields as a scorekeeper.
He played each year from t-ball to Junior Babe Ruth, and it’s nice that Parker’s first “job” involves the game he loves.
It’s hard to beat a night at the ballpark whether one is intently watching his or her favorite Little Leaguer swing the bat or soaking up the family-friendly atmosphere.
I’ve always enjoyed the aroma of grilled burgers and popcorn filling the air, seeing an overflow parking lot and fans gathered around the field supporting children.
This season will be slightly different in that BBSB will not be operating the concession stand, as the city has rented it to Keith Michaels’ Footlong Hotdogs.
While we will miss those burgers from the grill master Adrian Davis, I’m sure there will be plenty of delicious ballpark staples to enjoy while watching the games.
Along with selling hotdogs, Michaels plans to have nachos, BBQ sandwiches, ice cream, slushes, “loaded baked taters,” and fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, among other items.
Hopefully, they will be reasonably priced, as BBSB’s refreshments were, and enhance the experience at the ballpark.
Also, something new that the NEA Town Courier is offering this year is prints of the images taken during the season.
We will have proofs on our website, www.neatowncourier.com, and on our Facebook page sometime the next day.
We will also have write-ups and publish photos in the newspaper as we do each season.
It’s almost time to hear two of the best words in sports: “play ball!”