Let the games begin

One of the most anticipated events for young parents (and grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc) each spring is the arrival of Opening Day for the local youth baseball and softball league.

As we approach the end of April, that day will arrive in Clinton County this Saturday as the Albany Independent League gets ready for its Opening Day Ceremony.

First-year league president Chad Arms told the Clinton County News earlier this month that plans were to go with a similar Opening Day event lineup as in previous years, with a parade through Albany, followed by the throwing out of the first pitch, then the season’s games will get underway.

Parade lineup will begin at Mountain View Park at 9:00, with the parade getting underway at 10:00 a.m.

The Little League program has long been one of my favorite organizations in Clinton County, and continues to be some of the fondest memories I have of working with our youth (many, many years ago).

Good luck to the officers, board members, coaches and all of the other adult volunteers who put in this time to give our young athletes-to-be this opportunity to be involved in a team structured program – many for the first time. And, hats off to you for your efforts.

Congrats to the young volleyballers

A separate article and photos in this week’s Sports give more details about last weekend’s win for the Clinton County Middle School 8th grade girls’ volleyball team and its winning of the Glasgow Invitational Tournament championship.

I ran into one of the coaches, Ginger Moons Davis, this week and she explained to me that since the 8th grade program doesn’t really compete in a district tournament event, this championship to the team was the equivalent of capturing a district tournament championship.

She said all of this while beaming with pride. Davis is one of three coaches for this team, joined by Ashley Hardin and Kayla Krieck.

Congratulations are certainly in order for this young team, and their coaching staff on earning this championship.